Basics of Workers’ Compensation Benefits

A construction site accident can cause serious injuries to workers. However, injured victims may be able to recover damages for his/her injuries through workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits include payment of medical bills, vocational rehabilitation, and compensation for the time the employee is not able to work, or total disability benefits.

Types of injuries compensable under workers’ compensation

Most work related injuries are compensable. An injury can be classified as work related if the accident happened while the employee was doing something on behalf of the employer or during the course of employment. Injuries that are covered by workers’ compensation include:

·         Physical injuries

·         Repeated trauma injuries

·         Mental injuries

·         Occupational injuries

Types of workers’ compensation benefits

Workers’ compensation laws vary from state to state. However, injured employees are entitled to certain common benefits, including:

Medical benefits: An injured worker may recover 100 percent of medical costs under workers’ compensation benefits. He/she may also be entitled to cash benefits for lost work time after a three-to-seven-day waiting period.

Temporary total disability: When a work related injury or illness temporarily stops a worker from going back to his/her pre-injury job, for which he/she is otherwise qualified, the victim may be entitled to temporary total disability benefits. The cash benefits can differ, depending on the severity and duration of the injury. This benefit ends when the worker is fit to go back to work.

Permanent total disability and permanent partial disability: This kind of benefit is given when an injured worker has suffered from injuries that have impaired the employee permanently. Permanent total disability benefits are given to workers who cannot work due to work related injury or illness. On the other hand, permanent partial disability benefits are given when the worker suffers permanent physical impairment, although he/she is not completely limited in his/her ability to work.