It is hard to imagine your life being any different than it is today. Today you can walk, bend, grab things with both hands and jump up and down if you want. The problem comes when you walk into work one day able to function normally but then an accident at work happens and bam life is never the same again. Who helps pay the bills? What happens to your livelihood?
It is never easy to think about a future that is not perfect. However this happens more often than we like to think. If you are ever involved in an accident at work however minor report it. It is important not to dismiss anything this will make a later dispute much more difficult. Reporting the accident is the very first step in making sure that while you are disabled your bills can stay on track.
In fact it is very important to give details to your employer and to the medical center that treats your accident. It is important that you give details about specifically when the accident happened, where it happened within the facility and how the injury happened. It is also important to document who was around at the time of the accident and if possible get written statements from anyone who was involved or saw the occurrence.
There are some important questions that everyone who is injured on the job need answers to. In dealing with workers compensation one of the first is when will I begin to receive checks? This varies but if all the paperwork has been filled out correctly, the claim is legitimate and has been processed correctly the checks should start coming within a few weeks of the accident. The insurance company will have to investigate and record a statement and get the preliminary medical details from the clinic.
Your checks will continue until you are able to go back to work making the same amount of money you were or the case is settled. If a case is denied you will not start receiving checks at all and should contact a lawyer. Basically if this is to happen then the insurance company is claiming they are not responsible to cover the medical bills or you. This is all very time sensitive in nature and is best handed over to an attorney who will correctly navigate through the workers compensation process.
Another thing people often worry about is if their job will still be available for them when they are finally able to return to work. Your employer is required to keep the position open for twelve weeks. This is thanks to the Family Medical Leave Act. After twelve weeks they do not have to hold the position any longer.
If an employee returns to work and is placed on restriction and then fired it is thought to be because of the injury. It is up to the employer to prove that the firing was not illegal and that there was reason that you be let go. This is almost impossible for them to do. In most cases the employer will lose.
Any and all medical treatment required because of the injury is covered under workers compensation. The same is true with any and all medication that may be needed. Many employers will have you see their doctors you must petition to see your own doctor or specialist. In case such as broken bones and serious injuries it is best to go outside the clinic recommended by the company. Your care is far more important at the time than who is going to pay for it. The main goal is to get back to one hundred percent as soon as possible.