Middlebury Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
While no one wants to think about it, injuries in the workplace are much more common than people think. Every year employees suffer from neck and back injuries, head injuries, and traumatic brain injuries, all while they are simply trying to get their job done. If you have been hurt on the job, you may be legally entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Sadly, the process for obtaining the full benefits you deserve is complicated. To make matters worse, insurance companies and employers use many strategies to deny these claims. Below, our Middlebury workers’ compensation lawyer outlines more about these benefits.
Common Workplace Injuries
There are a number of different injuries that can happen in the workplace, but some are more common than others. These include:
- Elbow and hand injuries, often caused by repetitive stress or a single traumatic accident,
- Ankle and foot injuries, caused by trench cave-ins, crushing equipment, and slip and falls accidents,
- Knee and shoulder injuries, typically caused by catching a falling object, heavy lifting, or slip and falls,
- Hearing loss due to noisy environments created by power tools and heavy machinery,
- Vision loss, due to exposure to toxic chemicals or a traumatic accident,
- Occupational diseases, due to exposure to toxic chemicals, and
- Psychological injuries caused by the emotional impact of a traumatic injury.
Workers’ Compensation for Workplace Injuries
Workers’ compensation provides many different types of benefits, including:
- All reasonable and necessary medical expenses,
- Temporary total disability benefits if you suffer a temporary injury that leaves you totally disabled and you cannot return to work right away,
- Permanent total disability benefits if you suffer a permanent injury and are unable to return to work for a significant period of time,
- Temporary partial disability benefits, if you are partially disabled and can only perform light duties for a temporary period of time,
- Permanent partial disability benefits, if you are partially disabled and can only perform light duties for an extended period of time,
- Vocational rehabilitation benefits, if you require additional training to find a job that can accommodate your injury, and
- Death benefits for surviving family members that provide for funeral and burial expenses.
The Workers’ Compensation Process
There is a specific process to follow when claiming workers’ compensation. The steps are as follows:
- Report your injury to your employer immediately and receive medical attention.
- Within six months of the injury, file a workers’ compensation claim.
- Ensure your employer has filed a report with the Vermont Department of Labor, or report it to the agency yourself.
- Confirm the insurance company investigates the claim within 21 days.
- Receive your benefits, or a letter of denial outlining the reasoning for it.
Call Our Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Middlebury Today
If you have suffered an injury in the workplace, you need sound legal advice. At Sluka Law, PLC, our Middlebury workers’ compensation lawyer can provide it to ensure you receive the full and fair benefits you deserve. Call us today at 802-457-1000 or contact us online to request a consultation with our experienced attorney and to get the information you need.
