Work accidents and occupational diseases have been frequent for many years, especially in dangerous businesses such as construction, painting, cleaning at construction or industrial sites, etc. When these events result in a disability, the worker must be compensated for that work-related accident in order to treat their injuries and continue contributing to their family's income.
That is why, when you are a victim of a work accident, you should request the legal representation of a personal injury lawyer. It is ideal that you contact as soon as possible the network of experts at Conexión Legal by calling 1800 201 1220 or write to us via WhatsApp so that you can receive the best free consultation, and in this way we can ensure that you receive the highest possible compensation.
What is a Work Disability or a Disability Resulting from a Work Accident?
The term can encompass a lot of information. Generally, personal injury lawyers often refer to when there was a workplace accident that resulted in an injury or affected your health.
In these cases, remember that the most important thing is to see a doctor and report your accident in writing as soon as possible to your supervisor or employer. From then on, you should hire a lawyer who specializes in work accidents. The personal injury lawyer will file a workers' compensation claim, which we will explain below.
Discover how work accident compensation is calculated in the United States.
The Workers' Compensation Insurance Board of Directors will analyze your accident and injuries and classify your disability into one of the following categories:
- Total Temporary Disability: This occurs when the employee cannot work or earn a salary. In this case, you will receive full compensation for lost income.
- Partial Temporary Disability: This occurs when the employee completely loses the ability to work. In this case, the percentage of benefits would be the same as the percentage of disability.
- Total Permanent Disability: This occurs when the employee loses the ability to work and receives compensatory salary for the rest of their life. In this case, you will also receive lifetime benefits.
- Partial Permanent Disability or Unscheduled Loss: The employee has lost part of their ability to work, but in a permanent manner. In this case, you may receive lost earnings benefits for up to 10 years. A re-evaluation may take place after these 10 years have passed and an adjustment to compensation may be necessary.
- Partial Permanent Disability, Scheduled Loss: This classification applies to workers who have lost the ability to use a limb, whether it is the hand, arm, leg, sight, or hearing. In this case, the law determines the number of weeks of benefits you can receive.
- Disfigurement: In this case, the benefit will depend on the degree of injury and medical evidence is essential.
Remember that in all types of disabilities, medical reports are important in order to verify your injuries and the change in your quality of life so that you can request higher compensation. In the case of employee compensation, the employee receives checks with the determined amount every two weeks, and in order for the money to continue arriving, there must be at least a doctor's visit every 90 days to verify that there is still some degree of disability.
What Other Options Do I Have After a Work Accident?
The two options a worker has after a work accident are, as we already mentioned, a workers' compensation claim or a lawsuit against a third party. When it comes to employee compensation, the money the worker receives comes from the employer's insurance company. This insurance is intended to protect the health and safety of workers and, in case of an accident, covers the cost of medical care and up to two-thirds of lost wages.
Now, in the event that a third party was involved in your work accident, for example a general contractor, another company, or the building owner, you have the right to take legal action against third parties, with which you can receive much more compensation.
In any case, the best option will always be to hire a good personal injury lawyer with experience in workplace accident cases, who can obtain the highest possible compensation for your disability or personal injuries.
The choice of your lawyer is one of the aspects that can contribute to the final decision of your case. Therefore, if you or a loved one need it, you should contact the Conexión Legal team as soon as possible so that we can provide you with the best free consultation, and likewise, legal representation by a personal injury lawyer in case you wish to obtain the best possible compensation. Follow the steps in the following form to schedule your free consultation appointment.
