After a work-related injury or illness, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation to support your recovery. The type of injury or medical conditions you suffer and the circumstances that led to it will determine what kind of workers’ comp benefits you receive for your claim.
If you have questions about your workers’ compensation case and what types of benefits you may be owed, reach out to Kreger Brodish LLP for a free initial case evaluation. Talk to us to learn more about how our firm can help guide you through the claims process.
What Are the Most Common Types of Workers’ Comp Accidents?
Although some occupations have a higher risk of workplace injuries than others, accidents can happen at any job. Our attorneys see many causes of workers’ compensation injuries, such as the following:
- Toxic exposure — Some workplaces involve exposure to hazardous materials. When proper protective equipment isn’t worn and safety guidelines aren’t followed, these materials may cause severe injuries and illness.
- Motor vehicle accidents — Any job that involves driving a vehicle has a risk of a collision. Contact our truck accident lawyer if you need help.
- Overuse and strain — Many jobs require heavy lifting or repetitive work without breaks. This overstrain can lead to muscle sprains and tears, severe pain, and mobility issues.
- Falling objects — At dangerous construction sites and other jobs, a heavy object falling on a worker can cause head injuries, concussions, severed limbs, and broken bones.
- Slip-and-fall accidents — An employee can slip, trip, or fall in any workplace. Hazards such as slippery or icy ground, uneven flooring, or a loose rug can lead to a slip-and-fall accident with serious injuries.
What Are the Most Common Workers’ Comp Injuries?
Some of the most common injuries and occupational illnesses that lead to workers’ comp claims include the following:
- Lacerations and puncture wounds
- Sprains, strains, and tears
- Broken bones
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Burns
- Electrocution injuries
- Internal organ injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Hearing or vision loss
- Facial injuries and scarring
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Crush injuries
- Amputation
- Loss of a body part or bodily function
- Viral or bacterial infection
- Cancers, including lung, liver, kidney, and stomach cancer
What Are the Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
Depending on the severity of your injuries and the amount of work you miss, you may be eligible for certain benefits. In Durham, workers’ compensation benefits fall into the following basic categories:
- Medical benefits – Medical benefits under workers’ compensation cover all reasonable and necessary medical treatment and rehabilitation for an employee’s work injury or occupational illness. This may include expenses such as doctor’s visits, surgeries and other procedures, prescriptions, medical devices, and transportation.
- Temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits – Workers’ comp pays TPD when an employee’s injury causes them to earn less while they’re recovering. Benefits may cover two-thirds of the difference between their pre-injury and current earnings.
- Temporary total disability (TTD) benefits – Temporary disability benefits offer partial lost wage replacement when an employee cannot work because of a work-related injury or illness.
- Permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits – When an employee suffers a disability that leaves them earning less than before, workers’ compensation’s PPD covers two-thirds of the pre-injury average weekly wage.
- Permanent total disability (PTD) benefits – Disability benefits provide payments to an employee who cannot work because of a work injury or occupational illness. Permanent disability benefits are based on the type and severity of a permanent impairment or disfigurement.
- Vocational benefits – If an employee cannot return to their old job because of a work injury or illness but still can do other kinds of work, vocational benefits can provide retraining and job placement services.
- Death benefits – When a work injury or illness causes an employee’s death, their surviving spouse and dependents can receive financial payments. The compensation may include payment equal to total temporary disability benefits and up to $10,000 in contribution towards funeral and burial expenses.
How Are Workers’ Comp Benefits Determined?
Factors such as the extent of the injury and your pre-injury average income will affect the amount of compensation you receive. The amount of workers’ compensation benefits you’re owed is usually based on the costs of the future medical treatment and care needed for your work injury or occupational illness, including future anticipated physical therapy, surgeries, or prescription needs.
You may also receive around two-thirds of your average weekly wage in disability benefits. However, there is a cap on the maximum amount of benefits you can receive in North Carolina. A skilled workers’ compensation attorney can review your case and help you determine how much you may be entitled to in benefits.
Contact Our Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Durham
If you have been injured on the job or diagnosed with a medical condition caused by your work, you may have rights to workers’ comp benefits. But the process isn’t always simple. While you’re focused on recovering from your work-related injuries, you shouldn’t have to worry about filing a workers’ comp claim. That’s where a knowledgeable attorney can help.
For over a decade, the legal team at Kreger Brodish LLP has helped injured employees pursue the benefits they need to recover. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can get to work on your claim. Contact us today for a free case review to talk with one of our Durham workers’ comp lawyers.
