No one expects to suffer a catastrophic injury at work, but the fact is that it can happen to anyone. Even a white-collar worker with a desk job could slip and fall and suffer a serious head or back injury. Of course, some types of employees are more likely to sustain disabling injuries than others. Factory and construction workers are more likely to need Workers’ Compensation after an accident in the workplace.
In many cases, Workers’ Compensation is a band-aid solution to cover a workers’ medical costs and lost wages for a short period of time while they recover from their injury. However, if a worker is so severely injured that they will never be able to work again in any capacity, Workers’ Compensation can provide permanent and total disability payments in the long term.
Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol LLC is experienced in helping workers who have suffered a permanent and disabling injury while performing their job duties recover the compensation they need. Our goal is to ensure that your inability to return to work will not result in severe financial hardship for you. The cost of a disabling injury goes far beyond lost wages. For example, you may need long-term medical care, such as care from a home health aid who can assist you with the normal activities of daily living, or ongoing physical therapy treatment. We will do everything we can to get you the Workers’ Compensation payments you are entitled to.
Not every permanent injury renders a person eligible for permanent and total disability payments. If you are deemed able to return to work in another type of job, you may not qualify. However, if you must take a lower-paid job, Workers’ Compensation may pay wage benefits equaling the difference in your earnings before and after the accident.
You may be eligible for permanent and total disability if you:
If you are deemed permanently and totally disabled, Workers’ Compensation will pay up to two-thirds of your average weekly salary for the duration of the time you would likely have continued working. It should also cover your medical costs – not only the initial emergency room and hospital bills, but the cost of long-term care.
