How Does Workers Compensation Work?

Injury in the workplace isn’t an uncommon thing, primarily if you work in very hazardous environments. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2.8 million people were injured on the job during the 2019 work year. Undoubtedly, many people would have questions such as, Who do I report my injury to? What will happen to me? Do I even get paid?. These are just a few questions people may have if they get injured on the job. This article takes an in-depth look at how workers’ compensation and maximum medical improvement (MMI) actually work.

What is Workers Compensation & How does it Work?

Imagine you get sick or injured due to your job, workers compensation is the insurance for the employer and employee to ensure they still receive payments. This coverage will assist with medical bills you may have while also covering your lost wages due to time you may have missed. Many benefits come with workers’ compensation, and it is a tool that must be utilized if you are injured or become ill due to work-related events.

How long do you have?

If you are injured on the job or become ill due to your job, you might not know right away, but no need to worry, you will have some time to notify your employer and also file a claim. You have 30-65 days to notify your employer depending on the severity of your case. You also have a year following your injury to file your worker’s comp file to your employer. If you fail to file a report to your employer within 65 days, you would need to prove they should have known about the injury.

How do you file a claim?

If you’re an employee, you don’t have much to when it comes to filing a workers compensation file. You simply go to your HR rep and fill out the required paperwork, and they will take it from there. They will usually get the papers off to the insurance within 5 days.

What does workers comp cover?

• Medical Expenses
• Missed Wages
• Compensation for Injuries
• Lawsuits for work injuries

Whether your company is required to offer workers compensation, depends on the state in which you live.

What doesn’t workers comp cover

• Injuries due to drugs, intoxication, or company policy violations
• Claims after layoff or firing
• Pay for replacements

What is MMI?

Maximum Medical Improvement, or MMI for short, is the point where you reach in your medical treatment where the doctor believes you’ve healed to your full capacity. This doesn’t exactly mean your completely back to normal, it simply means your condition is the best you’ll be as of now. If you’re good enough to return to work, the doctor will provide your employer with a list of restrictions, essentially telling them what you are able to do and what you aren’t. Sometimes a condition will deem a person unable to return to work, but it simply depends on the severity of the case and what your doctor thinks is best.

Summary

Workers Comp is significant and extremely helpful during stressful times where you miss work due to work-related injuries or even illnesses. It gives you an added layer of security knowing you’ll be compensated for your time miss and you will have most of your medical bills covered. It is crucial to notify your employer of an injury within the appropriate time, so you receive all possible benefits. It is also important to visit a doctor for your injuries so you can get all the correct paperwork and get to know your MMI. This allows your employer to know your limitations due to your injury.