How you respond to suffering an at-work injury might affect your future Workers’ Compensation claim. To protect your recovery, focus on reporting the accident to your employer and getting your injuries diagnosed, both of which are crucial steps our lawyers can help you accomplish.
We can also confirm the lost-wage benefits Workers’ Compensation pays are accurate based on your inability to work and your previous income. We will see if your injuries qualify you for a special one-time payment, which is in addition to lost-wage payments and medical benefits. The only lost-wage benefits that last indefinitely are for permanent and total incapacity. Workers’ Compensation should cover all medical expenses, regardless of how long they last after a workplace accident.
Call the Law Office of John J. Sheehan’s Workers’ Compensation lawyers at (617) 925-6407 for a free case analysis.
What Should I Do Right After Suffering a Workplace Injury in Scituate?
Taking certain steps after suffering an on-the-job injury can protect your access to damages from Workers’ Compensation in Scituate.
Alert Your Employer
Report a workplace injury to your employer as soon as it happens. While you have seven days from your fifth day of disability to tell your boss, do so sooner if possible.
Your employer has seven days from when you report to alert their Workers’ Compensation insurance carrier, according to Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 152, § 6. This is what initiates your claim, so prompt reporting is vital.
Get Medical Attention
Always get medical attention as soon as you notice a workplace injury. Some injuries are immediately apparent, like lacerations or burns from explosions on construction sites. Other injuries happen over time, like repetitive motion injuries.
Employees are generally required to see doctors from their employers’ preferred providers list for their initial treatment, except for in emergencies, in which case they can go to the nearest emergency room. You will likely have to see a preferred provider to confirm your injuries, and our lawyers can help facilitate that.
Call Our Attorneys
Call our attorneys soon after suffering a workplace injury in Scituate. We can confirm whether or not your employer has the required Workers’ Compensation coverage and explain what to expect from the claims process.
Though you may be entitled to Workers’ Compensation benefits as an injured employee, do not assume your employer’s carrier will automatically approve your claim. Having our skilled lawyers by your side means you have an advocate when dealing with a Workers’ Compensation carrier, which might look for any reason to deny your claim for benefits.
How Can I Confirm My Workers’ Comp Benefits were Approved?
Within 14 days of your employer informing the carrier of your injuries and filing the claim, you should get notified of its approval or denial, according to § 7(1).
If the claim is approved, you should also get your first benefits check in the mail. Making sure that the amount is accurate is important, as you may continue receiving that amount of compensation for your lost wages as long as you cannot work.
We can calculate your Workers’ Compensation lost-wage benefits so we know how much that initial check should be for.
If the amount is inaccurate, our Workers’ Compensation lawyers can inform the carrier. It may need confirmation of your income before the accident or other information. There are specific methods for calculating partial incapacity, temporary total incapacity, and permanent and total incapacity benefits, all of which our lawyers are familiar with and can use to confirm your lost-wage benefits are accurate.
Do I Qualify for Specific Injury Payments in Scituate?
Workers’ Compensation pays lost wages, medical damages, and, in some cases, extra money to employees who sustain specific injuries.
Losing a body part or bodily function because of a workplace injury or illness has long-lasting consequences for workers. Massachusetts recognizes this and outlines additional specific injury benefits under § 36. Specific injuries include sight loss, hearing loss, limb loss, and bodily disfigurement, among others.
We can see if you qualify for a one-time payment because you suffered a specific injury, which many Massachusetts employees are unaware can be part of a Workers’ Compensation claim.
How Long Will My Workers’ Comp Payments Last?
How long your Workers’ Compensation payments last depends on the type of benefits you receive, how long your physical recovery takes, and other factors our lawyers can explain.
Partial Incapacity Benefits
Partial incapacity benefits generally last up to 260 weeks, though they may be extended to 520 weeks in some situations. Receiving partial incapacity benefits means you can still earn some income after sustaining a workplace injury, which is why they can last longer than temporary total incapacity benefits. If you recover physically sooner, your benefits will end sooner.
Temporary Total Incapacity Benefits
Workers’ Compensation may pay temporary total incapacity for up to 156 weeks. You get these lost-wage benefits if you cannot work at all after an accident but expect to recover with the appropriate medical care.
You will stop getting these checks if you can return to work sooner than 156 weeks. Workers’ Compensation carriers often ask claimants for updated medical records proving their injuries still stop them from working months after approving a claim, and we can help you respond in these scenarios.
Permanent and Total Incapacity Benefits
Permanent and total incapacity benefits last as long as injured employees need them, potentially for the rest of their lives.
Medical Benefits
Workers’ Compensation should cover all medical expenses associated with a workplace illness or injury. You may still need care after returning to work at a lower earning capacity, and Workers’ Compensation should continue covering these expenses. Tell us if Workers’ Compensation stops paying medical bills associated with a job-related injury, and we can help you determine the issue.
Call Us for Help with Your Workers’ Comp Claim in Scituate
Call the Law Office of John J. Sheehan’s Workers’ Compensation lawyers at (617) 925-6407 to discuss your case for free.