Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Weld County

When you are hired, your employer should provide you with workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits could be crucial when a workplace injury or illness happens on the job. In the event that you are not awarded benefits for a work-related injury, you should file a civil suit to hold your employer accountable for your medical costs.

If you suffered an injury while at work, you may want to learn more about your right to recovery. A workers’ compensation attorney may be able to review your situation and explain the workers’ compensation benefits in Weld County that you may qualify for.

What Temporary Disability Benefits Are Offered to Workers in Weld County?

After suffering a workplace injury, employees may be eligible to seek temporary disability benefits to compensate them for lost wages if they have missed more than three shifts, or days, of work. The requirement is that the employee must have missed at least two work weeks to receive payments for those first three days missed. If an employee misses less than two weeks total, they would not receive any compensation for lost wages.

Temporary total disability workers’ compensation benefits in Weld County require complete inability to work, or inability to work at full capacity, for a temporary period of time. Beneficiaries receive two-thirds of their average weekly wage, and cannot receive more than the maximum amount set by law per year.

Temporary benefits may be received until the injured worker is able to work full-time at their regular job, their doctor states that they could work at a modified job, which could be offered by the employer, or the doctor finds that they have reached “maximum medical improvement,” and no further medical attention is required to improve the condition.

Permanent Partial Disabilities

Scheduled impairment, whole body impairments, and disfigurements are all forms of permanent partial disabilities and could be covered under Colorado workers’ compensation. Compensation for scheduled impairments, losses in bodily functions listed in a state schedule, are paid for a number of weeks determined by the state schedule for that particular loss.

Whole person impairment, loss of function not listed by the state, such as mental impairment or impairment of an organ, is compensated by the severity of the loss determined by a doctor evaluation. Disfigurements that are on a visible part of the body, as well as severe disfigurements, are also eligible for compensation.

Permanent Total Disabilities

If an injured worker in Weld County with workers’ compensation benefits is entirely unable to work and earn any wages due to a permanent and total disability, they could receive two-thirds of their average weekly wage for life. Payments may vary, as Social Security and other disability pensions and compensation may reduce the amount an injured worker might be entitled to receive under permanent total disability benefits.

What Healthcare Benefits Are Available Through Workers’ Comp?

Under Colorado Revised Statutes §8-43-102, employers have the right to designate the doctors and medical providers that their employers could visit to cover all reasonable and necessary medical expenses. Weld County employees with workers’ compensation benefits may choose to pursue their own medical providers, but if they are not on a list approved by the employer, the workers’ compensation insurance might not cover it.

Death Benefits

If an employee dies as a result of an injury at work, surviving dependent(s) may be able to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation provides weekly payments, which are calculated similarly to temporary total disability payments, and have a maximum benefit rate. However, death benefits also have a maximum benefit rate, as well. Dependents may receive of up to $7,000 in funeral expenses.

Work with a Weld County Attorney to Obtain Workers’ Compensation Benefits

When you suffer an injury at work, you should be compensated for any money lost as a result of your injuries. A person could recover compensation for lost wages, as well as any medical bills incurred. Those who have been denied such benefits should immediately retain legal assistance.

If you have suffered a workplace injury, it may be worthwhile to get in touch with a skilled attorney. A lawyer could review the facts of your case and advise you on your eligibility to secure workers’ compensation benefits in Weld County.