Most employers in Colorado are required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance policies. It may also be possible to acquire this type of insurance on your own if you are self-employed. In most cases, you’ll receive less from a workers’ compensation claim than you would in a personal injury case. However, your claim will likely be processed in less time than it would take to resolve a personal injury matter.
You’re entitled to payment of medical bills related to a workplace injury
The workers’ compensation system will pay most medical costs associated with injuries that you experienced while on the job. Typically, it doesn’t matter when these costs are incurred. For instance, if you need to have surgery several years after an accident, it’s unlikely that you’ll need to pay for it. An attorney who is familiar with workplace injury cases may be able to provide more information about who pays for your long-term medical needs.
You are also entitled to a financial award
If your workers’ compensation claim is approved, you may be entitled to recover a portion of any wages lost while recovering from your injuries. In the event that you can’t return to work, you may be entitled to a lump sum equal to a percentage of your estimated lifetime earnings. Finally, it may be possible to receive job training to increase your chances of obtaining work when you’re healthy enough to reenter the workforce.
It may be possible to obtain benefits after returning to work
It’s not uncommon for employees to be given light duty assignments when they return to work. Generally speaking, you are paid less to perform tasks such as sweeping floors, answering phones or sorting mail. Therefore, you may still be eligible to obtain workers’ compensation benefits while on the job.
If you are hurt for any reason while performing tasks for an employer, you may be entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits. An attorney might be able to help you learn more about the process of obtaining them.
