Workplace injuries are often misunderstood. Despite all the effort toward making workplaces safer for workers, mishaps do happen. Following an accident, injured workers may find themselves grappling with losses, including the cost of medical care and wage losses. So, what’s a work injury? If you were injured at work, and it’s related to the course of work that you do, it could be termed as a workplace injury. You can file a workers’ compensation claim and expect to get compensation for your losses. You are also entitled to compensation if you have been diagnosed with an illness that’s related to your occupation.
Proving a work-related injury
Just saying that you have suffered a work-related injury is not enough. The insurance company will do what it takes to deny your claim because these companies are working for premiums and don’t really bother about settlements. Proving your injury requires evidence, and it is mostly on your doctor to testify that the injury is related to the work you do. For instance, if you had a heart condition and then suffered a stroke during the lunch break, it may not qualify as a work-related injury.
Personal injury claims vs. workers’ compensation claims
While both are types of injury claims, workers’ compensation claims are different from PI claims. To file a workers’ compensation claim, you need to prove that the injury happened at work and is related to the course of work. The workers’ compensation system is a no-fault one, which means you don’t need to prove or say that your employer was at fault. You could be entitled to benefits immediately after filing a workers’ compensation claim, which isn’t the case with personal injury claims. In comparison, PI claims are more complex, and it may take a while to get your settlement. Also, the process of filing a workers’ compensation claim is simpler.
Get an attorney
Even if workers’ comp claims may seem easy to deal with, you should get an attorney on your side to ensure that the insurance company doesn’t get away with its tactics. Your lawyer will only get a fixed part of your settlement, and that’s lesser than what an attorney would charge for a PI claim. It is also possible that you may have a valid PI claim after getting injured at the workplace.
Call an attorney to know what you can expect in a settlement and how you can avoid common claim-related mistakes.
