Will I Be Paid if I Lose Time from Work?

Will I Be Paid if I Lose Time from Work?

On Behalf of Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa | May 27, 2024 | Workers' Compensation

If you’ve suffered an injury on the job, you’re covered by workers’ compensation, but it’s important to understand how this works to help ensure you receive the compensation you’re owed. If you find yourself in the difficult position of missing work as a result of a work-related injury, you need an experienced Port St. Lucie workers’ compensation attorney in your corner.

How Workers’ Compensation Works

Workers’ compensation balances the rights of employers and their employees. Employers are required to cover their employees, which is an expense, but in exchange, they don’t face negligence-based personal injury claims when their employees are injured on the job. Employees are automatically covered if they’re injured on the job, but they give up the right to sue their employer for more comprehensive coverage in a negligence-based personal injury case.

First Steps

If you’re injured in the course of your work, there are some important first steps you should take to help protect both your health and your workers’ comp claim, including:

• Seek the medical care you need.
• Tell your supervisor or boss about your work-related injury as soon as you can.
• Consult with a trusted workers’ compensation attorney at your first opportunity.

Your Covered Losses

Workers’ compensation isn’t as comprehensive as a personal injury claim in terms of compensation, which is part of the tradeoff involved. You can, however, seek coverage for your necessary medical expenses and for a specific percentage of your lost earnings. In other words, you can be paid for the time you’ve lost on the job, but it won’t be equal to what you would have earned if you hadn’t been injured and had continued to work.

A Note about the Insurance Company

While the workers’ compensation insurance provider is paid to cover your losses, it’s important to understand that they are a business like any other – and they will do what they can to limit your settlement. Some steps you can take to help protect your claim include the following:

• Leave the communication with the insurance company to your knowledgeable workers’ comp attorney.
• Don’t post on social media while your claim is pending – the insurance company is watching and is skilled at assigning meanings that weren’t intended.
• Work closely with your attorney and follow their lead, which includes not accepting a settlement offer before you’ve gone over it with them.
• Carefully follow your medical team’s instructions and advice – it’s the best approach in terms of both your health and your workers’ compensation claim.

It’s Time to Consult with an Experienced Port St. Lucie Workers’ Compensation Attorney 

If you were hurt on the job, you are entitled to pay for the work you miss, but obtaining the compensation you’re entitled to can be challenging. The savvy Port St. Lucie workers’ compensation attorneys at Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa dedicate their imposing practice to guiding challenging cases like yours toward optimal outcomes that support our clients’ most complete recoveries, and we’re here for you, too. For more information, please don’t wait to reach out and contact us online or call 561-478-2500 today.