Employees who sustain job injuries must file a workers’ compensation claim. Most employers are required to carry this insurance. It pays for medical bills and lost wages. Moreover, workers’ compensation pays a lump sum for permanent and fatal injuries. Usually, injuries are covered that occur during the course of employment. The course of employment is becoming broader each year. For instance, an employee was injured playing ball for the company team. The employee’s right to benefits was upheld by the courts.
Work Compensation in Salt Lake City UT is considered no-fault. This means an injury can be partially a workers’ fault and compensable. The insurer always denies claims for injuries that result from intentional acts. An example would be an employee injured in a fist fight. The first thing an injured worker should do is seek medical attention. Afterwards, report the claim to the proper department. Indeed, insurance companies deny claims saying the employee did not report the injury. Employees who are victims of this should hire a lawyer. It helps to have an advocate negotiating with the insurer.
Over five million employees file claims each year. Interestingly, the most common type of injuries involves repetitive motion. They are often referred to as repeated motion injuries or RMIs. The majority of RMIs are carpel tunnel syndrome. A lot of wrist injuries are reported by office workers who use computers. Nonetheless, other parts of the body can be affected as well. Work Compensation in Salt Lake City covers a worker’s medical bills. Further, the insurer provides transportation to medical appointments. Covered medical treatment includes office visits, diagnostic testing, rehabilitation and more. Likewise, the injured worker gets a check each week. The check is based on some portion of the employee’s regular wage.
A lawyer will try to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company. One of the negotiating tools is a person’s permanent disability. A case scenario would involve a worker who falls and injures the back. If the worker has surgery, the back may never perform as well. A doctor gives the worker a permanent impairment rating. Most states have a financial schedule for what different permanent injuries are worth. To learn more, call Davis and Sanchez PLLC.
