Workers’ compensation can be a rather complicated thing to navigate. This is understandable as there is a general lack of knowledge surrounding it. For the most part, the everyday worker knows close to nothing about workers’ compensation. This can be quite problematic as it may lead to mistakes in case an incident does occur wherein worker’s compensation is needed. To help you out, we thought it would be useful to clear up misconceptions about this. If this is something that you’re interested in learning more about, read on as we debunk four common myths about workers’ compensation.
- You Have to Be In the Process of Doing Your Job When You Get Injured
You do not need to be injured on the job to be eligible for workers’ compensation. The only requirement is that you must be in the course of employment to collect workers’ compensation, but this can include both work-related activities as well as non-work-related activities. For example if you are on a paid break and you walk to your car and get injured, you may be entitled to benefits.
- You Need to Be at Your Place of Work When You Get Injured
You do not need to be at a job site when you get injured to file for workers’ compensation benefits. Auto accidents are one of the leading causes of work-related fatalities, and they account for most work-related injuries. While commuting is not generally considered part of your job, if you drive as part of your regular duties, you can file a workers' compensation claim for auto accident injuries (assuming you qualify).
- Your Employer Will Help You Get the Most Out of Your Benefits
Unless you're very lucky, your employer won't help you maximize your benefits. Workers' compensation benefits come directly from your employers insurance. It is not their job to help you maximize your benefits, most of them are not involved in the claim process. You will be the only person involved in your claim with a vested interest in maximizing your financial recovery and your attorney, if you have one.
- Hiring an Attorney Will Eat Into Your Benefits
When you need to seek financial compensation for a job-related injury, hiring an experienced attorney is the best way to maximize your financial recovery. This can be accomplished without incurring any out-of-pocket expenses for the injuries themselves. Workers’ Comp Attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means the lawyer retains a portion of your compensation if you win, instead of billing you for court costs and other expenses related to the case. The money to pay the lawyer fee comes from the insurance company and not your pocket.
Conclusion
We hope this article proves to be useful when it comes to helping you with your workers’ comp claims. While the process may be daunting, it is quite manageable as long as you are well informed. Be sure to keep everything you’ve learned here in mind so that you can avoid any issues down the line.
If you’re looking for workers' compensation attorneys in Northern California, Pacific Workers’, The Lawyers for Injured Workers have your back. Our team of experienced lawyers will do all they can to make sure that you maximize your financial compensation for any pain or suffering that you have endured. For a free consultation, call us at 800 606 6999!