Did you recently suffer an injury at work? According to the National Safety Council, overextension, falls, and contact with dangerous objects or equipment are the most common types of injuries.
Regardless of whether your injury falls into one of those categories or is something else entirely, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation. This can provide you with monetary support to help get your life on track.
But what is workers’ compensation, and how do you know if you qualify for it?
Keep reading to learn about seven signs that show you’re entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits.
1. You Now Qualify for Disability
If you suffered a severe injury at work, you might now receive disability payments. These can either be partial or total.
Either way, if you qualify for disability, there’s a good chance that you also now qualify for workers’ compensation.
If you do qualify for them, it’s worth applying for workers’ comp as well. You’ll likely have expensive medical bills, and you’ll also be away from work for some time.
Workers’ compensation can help handle all of those things.
2. You Didn’t Have the Proper Safety Equipment
Whenever you perform dangerous tasks at work, you should always have the necessary equipment. If you don’t have it, it’s a sign that your employer was neglectful.
Safety equipment doesn’t only refer to worksites that handle hazardous materials or dangerous machinery, either. It can be as simple as a chef not having access to protective gloves while using a knife.
Keep in mind that you don’t have a case if you refused to don protective equipment. If you weren’t wearing a hard hat at a construction site, then that’s your fault. However, if you never had access to one in the first place, then your employer is the one at fault.
3. The Injury Wasn’t Your Fault
Did you injure yourself at work because of someone else? If you did, you might be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
It doesn’t matter if it was an employee, a coworker, or someone else—if you had an accident that otherwise wouldn’t have happened, make sure to file a claim. You might be surprised at the benefits that you can receive.
If there wasn’t another person around when your injury occurred, you might still have a case. Something as simple as a lack of a wet floor sign can be grounds for you receiving workers’ compensation.
4. You Didn’t Have the Necessary Training
Whenever you perform a work task, you should have the knowledge, skills, and training to complete it safely. If you don’t and you get into an accident, make sure to file for workers’ compensation.
A judge will be able to tell that you were out of your element and will give you the support that you need. Just make sure that you’re able to prove that you had no experience or training surrounding the task that led to your accident.
Again, there are instances where a court will deem you to be the one at fault. Most of the time, this is when you had access to the required training but chose to skip it or not complete it.
5. An Attorney Feels That You Have a Case
There are many times when you might have a hunch that you have a case, but you’re not certain. In those times, you’ll want to speak with a worker’s comp lawyer, like one of the attorneys at Goings Law Firm.
If they look at the evidence and feel that you do have a case, make sure to file for one.
Most law firms will offer free consultations to potential clients. The two of you will work together to figure out whether or not it’s worth bringing the matter to court. If you find that it is, your attorney will do everything in their power to help you get justice.
6. Your Employer Isn’t Helping You
If you’re injured at work, your employer should be doing everything in their power to help you recover, regardless of the context of the injury. If they don’t, an attorney can force them to support you through a workers’ compensation case.
Your employer should pay for all subsequent medical bills, hospital visits, and medications you need. They also need to work with the insurance company.
Not paying for some of these items or refusing to pay for any of them is unacceptable. A lawyer for workers’ compensation can help you get everything sorted out.
7. Your Employer Terminated You
If you try to file a worker’s comp claim after an accident and your employer decides to terminate you, know that this is against the law. They can’t just fire you to make their lives easier.
They need to provide you with the support you need to pay bills and bring your life back to normal.
In those sorts of cases, make sure to work with an attorney, as you may also have a case for unlawful termination.
Understand When You’re Eligible for Workers’ Compensation
If you were injured in an accident at work, make sure that you have the support you need to get your health and life back on track. Often, workers’ compensation is the best way to help you do that.
Use this guide as a resource to ensure you know when you’re eligible for workers’ compensation. Make sure that you get the support you need by hiring a lawyer for workers’ compensation.
Did this article help you better understand when you can qualify for workers’ compensation insurance? If it did, make sure to check out the rest of our site for more legal advice and tips.
