In spite of the safety and precautionary efforts practiced at the workplace, work-related injuries are inevitably hard to avoid. Workplace injuries are a common occurrence and virtually present in most, if not all career fields. If you’ve been injured while on the job, it’s very important to know what is expected of you as well as other parties that may be involved to facilitate your quick recovery. Another factor to consider after work-related injury concerns filing your claim. As an employee, you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.
This is a form of insurance coverage that helps to compensate employees who’ve been injured while on the job. One thing to note is that, without workers’ compensation benefits, it can be hard to make a full recovery and to also make ends meet. With that in mind, below is everything you need to know how to recover from a work-related injury.
1. Filing A Worker’s Compensation Claim
It’s very important that when injured on the job or ill due to poor working conditions, to file a worker’s compensation claim. As earlier mentioned, this is a type of insurance benefit remunerated to employees who’ve been injured while at work. However, it’s very important that you follow all the necessary steps as required by your state laws, which may include filing the necessary documentation and presenting your claim in good timing. But unfortunately, this can be an overwhelming undertaking, given your situation. It’s therefore important to consult with an experienced worker’s compensation attorney to help you in navigating through the cumbersome process. According to Brent P. Stewart from Stewart Law Offices, knowing your options and understanding your rights is of utmost importance. On the law firm’s official website, the Worker’s Comp FAQ page provides tons of helpful information and answers to questions you’d have regarding workers’ comp. Having the basic knowledge of what to do or what to expect will help to provide you with important guidelines on how to proceed. Workers’ compensation benefits can be divided into four main categories. They include:
- Medical benefits – When injured at work, workers compensation benefits will help to cover your medical bills while ensuring that you are receiving the best treatment
- Income benefits – This benefit will help to replace or supplement any lost wages as a result of being absent from work
- Burial benefits – When work-related injuries result in death, the burial benefits will help to pay the funeral and burial related expenses.
- Death benefits – Family members of loved ones who die on the job as a result of work-related accidents can benefit from the deceased income benefits. These benefits can be used to help in paying off debts or financing education
2. Finding Support Teams
The people you come into contact with after a work-related injury will play a crucial role in your recovery process. It’s therefore important to develop a positive attitude towards them to ensure that you get the help needed and at the right time. They may include family members, friends, colleagues, healthcare providers, legal advisers, and spiritual leaders. If you can, consider enrolling in a counseling program or a community-based support group.
3. Important Services in Your Road to Recovery
Now, after sustaining injuries while on the job, you may experience a delayed healthcare service delivery because the healthcare provider must wait for approval from your employer’s insurance before they can start with treatment. Nonetheless, certain treatments can still go on even without the insurer’s approval. This may include first aid, emergency services, and life-saving surgery. However, after filing a worker’s compensation claim, you can go to any doctor of your choosing provided it’s within the insurer’s network of caregivers. The worker’s compensation benefits claim will allow you to enjoy the best medical care as well as other requirements that may help towards your speedy recovery. Additional healthcare professionals you may need in your journey to recovery may include occupational therapists, rehabilitation counselors, physiotherapists, and psychologists.
4. Recovery At Work
After going through a lengthy period out of work and going through various treatments and rehabilitation, it can seem like a good idea to resume work. However, it’s important to ensure that you get your doctor’s approval as well as that of your employer. It’s also important to inform the insurer about your plans to recover while at work. While it’s most preferred for you to return to the same position you had before the injury, the circumstances and the nature of your injuries can prevent it from happening. However, your employer is allowed to look for the most suitable work options depending on your handling capacity. Among other favors you may enjoy helping you recover while at work may include:
- Working the same job, but in different hours
- Having your duties modified
- Undergoing training fit for other positions
- Changing the workplace altogether
Going back to work after a workplace-related injury is not always the best idea. Especially if you’ll have to go back to the same position you had at the time of your injuries. You don’t want anything that will trigger any painful memories. As a health rule, changing your position or ultimately changing work may be your best option. But due to the scarcity of work today, many employees are forced to return to the same working conditions and working in the same positions.
As you can see, it takes a lot to fully recover from a workplace-related injury. But with a worker’s compensation benefits claim, you can get your life back, not as it was, but it’s a start towards another chapter in your life. Additionally, it’s important to allow people in your life. People who’ll help to add value and help you in your recovery journey.
