You may have gone to your workplace expecting it to be another routine day, but it ended differently because of an accident. You are in pain and wondering if you will ever be the same again. Or, maybe the pain has been getting worse each day at work for a long time. Now, it gets worse, not just every day at work, but with each hour, each minute. Time is rushing by too fast, so you need relief fast.
You have worked hard to be able to provide for yourself and your family. But what happens if you have suffered an injury or illness while working? Will you still be able to take care of your family’s necessities? Thankfully, here in Connecticut, there are workers’ compensation benefits (also called workers’ comp) available for you to do so.
How do you know if you qualify for workers’ compensation benefits and won’t just be denied? How can you get the compensation you need as quickly as possible? The workers’ compensation lawyers at Gould Injury Law in Connecticut are here to help speed up the process to make sure you get paid as soon as possible. Our law firm understands personal injury and workers’ comp laws and will get you the legal help you need—and fast! Call our workers’ compensation attorneys at 888-WIN-FAST or fill out the online form for a free consultation with a lawyer.
What to Do If You Were Injured On the Job
When injured at work, the first thing you should do is to seek emergency medical attention, if required, or see your doctor and explain your work-related personal injury. Next, you must report your injury. It is best to do this as soon as possible. Your employer will then inform the Connecticut State workers’ Compensation Review Board as well as the company’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier.
It is also likely that both your employer and the workers’ compensation insurance company will require you to visit a doctor whom they choose. The doctor in question may or may not agree that your injury was caused by your work or on the job. The treating doctor may approve “light duty” work if your employer makes that type of work available for you.
How can you be sure that you get fair treatment by your employer and his or her insurance company? By contacting a personal injury attorney right away. Having a personal injury lawyer well-acquainted with workers’ compensation law will help you to receive the Connecticut workers’ comp benefits you deserve such as:
- Lost wages: A person injured at work can receive two-thirds of the normal amount of wages from workers’ compensation benefits. Your employer may resist the directions of your doctor to limit your workload. He may put pressure on you to do work that is unhealthy or unsafe for you. He might even fire you for obeying your doctor. These actions by an employer are illegal; if this has happened to you, you need the legal assistance of a workers’ compensation attorney.
- Medical expenses: The state law in Connecticut says that you must receive medical cost compensation if you were injured at work. In Connecticut, your employer often selects the doctor you must visit for your injury but won’t always have your best interests as his or her priority. Having a knowledgeable and tough workers’ compensation lawyer in this situation is imperative.
- Lump-sum payment: When the law determines that your injury will not improve any further, your employer can stop paying you disability payments. You may be offered a sizable settlement payment instead, to compensate you for lost work or diminished work in the future. Usually, employers try to offer as little money as possible. At times like these, you need a capable and strong workers’ compensation lawyer to fight for you so you can get the amount you require.
You can put yourself in the best position to be successful when you hire an attorney who will represent your legal interests. Why? Is hiring a workers’ compensation attorney experienced with personal injury claims really necessary?
Why You Should Call a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer for Legal Advice
The Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Act gives you the legal right to receive medical care and income benefits if you have suffered a work-related injury, disease, illness, or death. But you likely have many questions about how to receive these workers’ compensation benefits and need answers fast. Understanding these workers’ compensation laws is difficult.
Even more difficult is making an unwilling employer and insurance company do what the law requires without them denying or undercutting your benefits. In most cases, employers in Connecticut have workers’ compensation insurance, but they can also choose to self-insure. This means they pay the injured employee with money from their own companies, so they aim to pay as little as possible.
Employers and insurance companies will often work very fast to try every possible tactic to reduce your benefits or to keep from paying you. Having an aggressive and quick workers’ comp lawyer on your side is very important. You need an attorney that will work faster than the employer and insurance company trying to limit your payments. You need a lawyer to use personal injury law to insist that insurance companies follow legal requirements. More than that, you want a lawyer who can make them do what is fair and just for you.
At Gould Injury Law, we will do exactly that. Our team of Connecticut workers’ compensation lawyers will not let the insurance company weasel out of doing what’s right. Insurance companies will not intimidate or trick us. We will act fast to make sure you get paid quickly. Our attorneys will swiftly go after what is best for you and get it.
Are you unsure if you are being treated fairly in your workers’ compensation claim? Have you filed a claim after your workplace accident but there has been a delay in receiving your benefits? Do you not know why? You should call Gould Injury Law firm for a free consultation with an experienced attorney. We understand the workers’ compensation law in Connecticut and are determined to get you your benefits as quickly as possible after your injury.
Types of Work-Related Injuries Covered by Workers’ Compensation in Connecticut
Work-related injuries and claims come in many forms. Some injuries and accidents are obvious while others are neither apparent nor expected. The following is a list of a few of the most common work-related injuries that may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits:
- Repetitive strain injuries: Also called RSIs, these injuries are the result of doing the same physical task repeatedly. Repetitive strain injuries can start from just a small body part. Still, they can be very painful and disabling.
- Illnesses and diseases: Illnesses or diseases that begin or get worse because of a situation at your job may also be worthy of compensation. Some common examples would include black lung disease and asbestosis.
- Loss of hearing: Construction sites, factories, and similar workplaces are extremely noisy. It is common for employees to suffer from hearing loss when exposed to dangerous noises.
If your injury is not described above, please call us to discuss your work-related injury with an attorney. You may still qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.
Different Kinds of Workers’ Compensation Benefits
There are different types of workers’ compensation benefits available under Connecticut state law. The type you may qualify for depends on the extent of your injury or illness and its duration. The main kinds of benefits covered by Connecticut workers’ compensation law include:
Medical care only — This workers’ comp benefit includes hospital costs, doctor bills, diagnostic testing, treatments, and physical therapy required for your recovery.
Temporary disability — You may need to take some time off work, but the injury is only temporary. You receive benefits while you recover. There are two types of temporary disability benefits that you can receive depending on the severity of your injury. These include:
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): You are unable to perform your normal job for a limited period, but you are still able to do some work. These benefits cover the difference between your wages before your injury and your reduced wages afterward.
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD): You are unable to perform any job, but you may be able to work again in the future when you recover. This benefit ends either when you are recovered or when doctors determine that you will not fully recover.
Permanent disability — You may need more time to completely recover than is covered by your temporary disability benefits. Or, doctors have decided that you will not make a full recovery. These are the two types of permanent disability benefits:
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): You have suffered permanent disability to a body part, including your vision or hearing. The impairment is permanent but does not completely limit your ability to work again in the future.
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD): Your disability is permanent to the extent that you may be unable to work again. Doctors determine that Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) has been reached and that the employee has sustained a permanent disability.
Find Legal Help Fast With a Lawyer at Gould Injury Law
Following your injury, the financial stress, emotional pain, and mental anguish is a lot to handle on your own. You want to recover quickly, and we want this for you too. We feel that you should not have to continue to suffer after your accident. When you need a Connecticut workers’ compensation attorney, you need Gould Injury Law. Our workers’ compensation lawyers will use our experience to help you obtain the legal benefits you have worked so hard for. The strength and determination of our law firm will be behind your personal injury case. We will get you fast and satisfying results. Call our workers’ compensation attorneys at 888-WIN-FAST or fill out the online form for a free consultation and helpful legal advice.
