Got Trouble? We can help.

What are workers compensation benefits?

If you qualify for worker's compensation benefits then you will have worker's compensation benefits. You probably will have most of your medical expenses and lost wages paid.

Medical bills

Worker's compensation normally pays your reasonable medical expenses. This generally includes payments for doctors, psychiatrists, chiropractors, drugs, and medical supplies that are used to treat you. Your right to have your bills paid should not end until you are cured.

Lost wages

If you are forced to miss work because of your job injury (even if it's just to go to the doctor), worker's compensation normally should pay you some of the wages you lose, periodically (e.g., once a week). How much and how often you'll get paid varies from state to state.

How long do worker's compensation benefits last?

This depends on your state's program. If your job injury is permanent, you might receive payments for lost wages for many years - perhaps for your whole life. The amount of the payment and the length of time you get paid through worker's compensation depend on how bad your condition is. If your condition totally disables you, you will get more money than if you are only partially disabled (e.g., you lose a finger) and still able to work at some type of job.

Training costs

If your work injury stops you from ever going back to your old job, you might be able to get worker's compensation to pay for training (also known as "vocational rehabilitation") for a new job. For example, if you spent your whole career as a delivery person but you had an injury on the job that now makes it really painful to drive, worker's compensation might pay for you to train as a computer programmer (or some other job where you don't have to drive).

But, worker's compensation might limit the kind of training you can take. So, if you were injured in a factory job, don't plan on worker's compensation paying for you to go to medical school.

Lawsuits

You normally cannot sue your employer for a work-related injury, even if it is your employer's fault that you got hurt and your employer could have prevented the injury. There might be an exception, though, if your employer does something really outrageous - like purposefully attack you at work.

If someone other than your employer or co-workers caused your injury, you might be able to sue that person. This is called a "third party" claim. For example, if you are injured because of faulty equipment, you may be able to sue the company that manufactured the equipment. Also, if someone who does not work with you injures you and it is his or her fault - for example, someone hits you with his or her car while you are making a delivery - you can probably sue that other person too. If you have questions about workers compensation, consult with a labor lawyer near you.