Workers' compensation offers different types of benefits depending on the needs of the injured employee. Not all injuries require disability benefits. There are injuries, on the other hand, that will prevent an employee from returning to their previous job. It's important to understand what benefits are available if you are injured while on the job. Once you know what injuries you are dealing with, you will know what benefits you are entitled to.
Almost all work-related injuries requires medical treatment. Workers' compensation insurance pays for any medical expense that is directly associated with your work-related injury. This includes any occupational therapy as well as any long-term care that may be required for chronic pain. Medical benefits will continue to be paid for as long as necessary, or a settlement may be offered that will provide a lump sum payment if continued care is needed.
If an injury results in an employee being disabled to the point where they can never work again, their workers' compensation insurance will kick in. In this case, disability benefits will be paid to the employee to compensate for their lost wages. Their medical expenses will also be covered either through monthly benefits or a settlement. Every employee is different when it comes to the severity of their injuries and what they will be capable of doing once they have started the recovery process.
An employee may have an injury that prevents them from returning to their previous job. They may still be able to work in some capacity, however. If this is the case, workers' compensation insurance will pay rehabilitation benefits that will allow them to receive the training they need to do another job. The ultimate goal is to allow the employee to return to work, even if she is in a different position than before. Rehabilitation benefits will allow the employee to return to school or enter a training program that will allow them to follow a new career path.
Workers' compensation insurance also provides death benefits to family members who have died while on the job. Even though employers are constantly trying to find ways to maintain a safe work environment, fatalities still occur. If the employee lived for a few days after the injury, the workers' comp policy would also pay their medical expenses as well. If an employee passes away from the injuries they received on the job, it will be up to the family members to apply for the workers' compensation death benefits.
Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory in most states. Employers need this type of coverage to protect themselves from significant financial loss if a work-related accident should ever occur. It can be difficult to understand the various types of benefits offered by workers' comp insurance. It can be even more confusing when you try to understand all of the deadlines that must be met and the different forms of documentation that you may need to have on hand. That's why it's always better to consult a professional.
If you want to learn more about workers' comp benefits or want to buy new insurance for your workers, contact us today. Our agents at CF&P Insurance Brokers will help you, your business, and most importantly, your workers make it through a difficult time.
