A Brief Guide to Workers’ Compensation
If you are new to a job that provides workers’ compensation, you likely have questions regarding what it is and how it works. The following guide is designed to help you understand this unique form of financial protection.
Workers’ Compensation Defined
Workers’ comp is a form of insurance that safeguards both employees and their employers in the event of an injury or sickness caused by job-related activities. For workers, it provides an economic cushion in case of disaster. For the business, it protects from a financial loss so severe that the operation could be forced to shut down due to an on-the-job incident.
Workers’ Compensation Protections
It is vital that everyone understands what workman’s compensation covers. In the event of physical harm, workman’s comp pays for lost wages and related medical expenses. This includes both immediate attention as well as long-term care. If an employee dies, the family is handed funds to cover funeral expenses. Claims can be difficult, so you may consider talking to a workers’ compensation lawyer Frederick, MD.
Certain damages are often not included. For example, injuries sustained in a physical altercation initiated by the claimant are typically rejected. Other scenarios under which restitution is usually unavailable include harm caused by workspace intoxication or intentionally hurting oneself. Emotional trauma without a physical component is never recognized. State laws determine the specifics regarding what gets covered. Contact a workers’ compensation lawyer Frederick, MD if you have further questions.
Workers’ Compensation Payments
With the exception of New Jersey and Texas, workers’ compensation is compulsory for businesses that do not provide other benefits. How much companies pay to insure their workforce depends on multiple factors, including the company’s size and nature of business. When it is available, employees do not pay to be covered.
Workers’ Compensation Claims
If you get hurt on the job, report the incident to your supervisor immediately. For those who suffer a job-related illness that emerges over time, supervisors should be informed of the condition as soon as a diagnosis is made.
Data that needs to be reported to the insurance company includes basic information about the worker and business, along with the nature of the incident. Claims should be made as quickly as possible. In some states, there is a limited window of time under which they can be filed.
When legitimate claims are rejected or an employer fails to perform its due diligence, the responsible party should be compelled to make the situation right. If you are covered by workers’ compensation and get hurt on the job, yet never receive payment, suing might be the appropriate action. Contact an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer Frederick, MD to review your situation and execute effective litigation.
The attorneys at Cohen & Cohen have handled thousands of cases since 1993. Contact a workers’ compensation lawyer Frederick, MD immediately for a free case evaluation. Call us today at (202) 955-4529.
Can I Make a Workers’ Compensation Claim For My Hearing Loss?
Unfortunately, noise pollution is an ever increasing problem in today’s workplaces. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that nearly a quarter of all U.S. hearing loss can be traced to a noisy workplace. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that more than 20,000 workplace hearing loss cases are handled each year.
Workers’ compensation does cover job-related hearing loss, but the problem is that hearing losses usually occur gradually over time. It may well be difficult to pinpoint when yours began and what company you worked for at the time. Your wisest strategy, therefore, is to seek the advice and counsel of an experienced Frederick, MD workers’ compensation lawyer if you suspect that your hearing has been or is being negatively affected by your work environment.
Workers Most at Risk
While any workplace can be noisy at times, you face the greatest risk of suffering a hearing loss if your job consists of one of the following:
- Airline crew member or airfield worker
- Ambulance driver or EMT
- Construction worker, particularly carpentry
- Lawn maintenance worker
- Manufacturing or factory worker
- Miner
- Agriculture worker
- Music industry worker
- Oil and gas extraction worker
Noise Levels
Noise levels are measured in decibels (dB). The higher the decibel level, the greater the chance of it producing hearing loss, especially if your job requires you to constantly work in a high-noise environment. Per recommendations issued by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, a worker should not be exposed to a noise level higher than 85 decibels in any eight-hour workday. However, NIOSH also estimates that at least 30 million U.S. workers are, in fact, exposed to noise levels sufficient to cause irreversible hearing loss. If you suffer hearing loss at work, you may wish to contact a Frederick, MD workers’ compensation
lawyer.
Common workplace sounds that vastly exceed NIOSH recommendations include the following:
- Hammer hammering nails: 115-120 dB
- Jet plane motor: 120 dB
- Fire engine or police car siren: 120-140 dB
- Electric drill: 125-130 dB
- Jackhammer: 130 dB
Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim
Suffering an occupational hearing loss can not only be expensive, but also will likely negatively impact both your work life and your personal life. Workers’ Compensation covers your medical costs, including such things as diagnostic testing, hearing aids, batteries and servicing. Specific benefits vary by state, however, as do the time periods within which you must file a claim. Again, your local Frederick, MD workers’ compensation lawyer can advise you in these regards and ensure that you file your claim within the prescribed time frame.
If you’ve been injured, contact a Frederick, MD workers’ compensation lawyer today for a free case evaluation. The attorneys at Cohen & Cohen have settled more than 10,000 cases in the last 30 years, and can help get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us at (202) 955-4529 today for a free case evaluation.
