The Workers’ Compensation program was established by federal law to ensure that people who are injured at work have the money to pay their medical bills and living expenses, while they are recovering. All employers are required to have insurance to provide these benefits to their workers. In return for these benefits, the law took away the right of an employee to sue their employer for damages. Once an employer certifies that the injury was caused by work-related tasks, the compensation begins. Workers usually receive 60 percent of their wages until they have recovered. Their medical bills are paid in full.
However, workers can sometimes have difficulty in receiving their workers’ compensation benefits. The employer may refuse to certify that an injury or illness is work related. While it is obvious when a person falls off of a ladder in a stockroom, it can be more difficult to prove that other injuries or illnesses were caused by on-the-job duties. If a person develops a bad back after 10 years of lifting heavy objects at work, they may have difficulty proving it was their job and not at-home activities that caused it. Stress-related mental disorders can also be hard to link to work. If an employer refuses to acknowledge any kind of illness or injury, the worker should contact a lawyer immediately.
The worker must also follow strict rules when they seek medical treatment. The employer and their insurance company may require that the injured person go to a doctor on an approved list. These doctors work for the employer and are paid by them. Therefore, they may be more sympathetic to the employer and not the injured worker. They may report that the worker’s injury is very mild and they are capable of continuing to work.
The lawyer will prepare an effective appeal to ensure the worker’s rights are protected. Even after the worker has been granted workers’ compensation, he or she may have trouble keeping the benefits. The employer and their insurance company may require constant medical examinations to confirm that the disability still exists. Swartz Culleton PC is one of the law firms that represent injured workers. Visit Website Domain to learn more about the firm and their services.
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