Globally the statistics of workplace injuries are estimated at 340 million occupational accidents and 160 million work-related illnesses per year. Those numbers are high, and the figures in the US are also concerning, with about 3.5 fatalities per 100,000 workers. Nobody likes to think or talk too much about this kind of bleak fact, but the reality is that it is a reality. So instead of hiding from it, we should make sure we are fully equipped with information, should we ever find ourselves in a situation where either we or someone we know or love gets injured at work. If you are reading this and you have already been injured or made ill through your place of work, you have come to the right place. This discussion serves to tell you that there are options available to you that are worth pursuing. This is because there are ways of securing compensation for your injury or illness. While this won’t fix it or make it go away, it might assist with some of the financial stress you are experiencing as a result of your workplace accident.
Lodge A Complaint
There are regulating bodies that exist to support you as a worker to ensure you are adequately protected at your place of work. If you feel your existing workplace does not offer safe working conditions, does not have support structures in place, and is possibly even posing risk to your health, then you should contact your local authority body to lodge a formal complaint. This will lead to an audit and formal inquiry of your workplace. If your employer is found to be noncompliant, then they will be penalized and/or required to improve the standard of working conditions for employees. For protection from these instances, the occupational health and safety act (OHSA) was implemented across the USA. The same goes for if you already obtained an injury at work, you can report the incident to the OHSA representative in your area. However, it is not as clear-cut as we might like it to be, and in order to improve your chances of being sufficiently compensated, you might need to hire a workers compensation lawyer to represent your case. The upside of this is that these professionals hold expertise and experience in this field and have won many cases similar to yours.
What Is Worker’s Compensation?
Worker’s compensation is a form of business insurance that businesses are required to have, in the event that a worker is injured or harmed by their job role. Costs that could be claimed back from this fund include medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and wage assistance (due to work missed as a result of the accident). There are some exclusions from worker’s compensation insurance such as if the accident occurred while the worker was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Common workplace injuries that are covered by this type of insurance include, but are not limited to, repetitive strain injuries, falls, slips, machinery faults, violence within the workplace (of which there is more than one form), and being struck.
Where The Accident Takes Place
The area or state in which you live and work might have some impact on the legislation that is in place. However, the overriding law around workplace safety is that all employees have a right to a safe working environment that does not impact their health or integrity. Now, unfortunately, these worker rights are not always upheld in all working contexts. Take for instance the case of construction workers who are not supplied with adequate safety gear, helmets, and goggles. This type of work is energy-intensive, physical, and can be dangerous at times. A worker who gets harmed or affected on a building site could sustain very serious injuries with long-lasting effects. This is where worker’s compensation insurance is helpful to assist in these kinds of situations and provide the affected individual with as much support as is possible after the event.
What Are The Benefits?
The benefits of workers’ compensation vary depending on the severity of your accident or illness. You will be assessed by medical and health professionals to determine the extent of the impact on your daily functioning. Obviously, the more severely impacted, and the longer-term the consequences, the more the payout. Then depending on the level of medical, therapeutic, and other assistive support needed, this will help inform what you are ‘entitled to claim. If your accident causes a period of absenteeism, then the fund will also assist to cover any unpaid time off. The same goes for if the accident causes you a level of disability that will impact your ability to continue to do your job effectively in the future. Actuarial scientists and other financial experts will assess your potential income lost and advise accordingly.
How Do I Know If I Qualify?
If you work for a company that employs more than 4 people, then by law, they should be covered for worker’s compensation. Therefore, there is a good chance that you will be able to receive some level of cover, depending on the severity of the injury you sustained. Again, it would probably be wise to make contact with a workers compensation legal team to best advise and help you navigate all the details and requirements of compiling a sound case, which will help to ensure you have a good chance at accessing some kind of payout. Even if you have got a pre-existing condition, you can still qualify for worker’s compensation if you can adequately show how your workplace made your condition worse.
Unfortunately, workplace accidents are a common occurrence. They are one of those things that we hope will never happen to us or someone we love. Sadly far too many people are affected by injuries or illnesses as a result of the place they work, however, this is why insurance schemes like worker’s compensation exist. They are there to protect employees across industries from the financial strain and adversities they can experience after, and as a result of their workplace condition. It is advisable to navigate this kind of claim with the help of a legal team with worker’s compensation experience and knowledge.
