INJURED WORKER'S RIGHTS (part 3 of 3)

You have the right to see a doctor, without charge to you, for any accident at the workplace, regardless of how trivial it may seem. Your employer will issue you a form to fill out and return; do this as soon as possible!


In most cases, Workers' Compensation covers your medical treatments until your treating physician releases you to go back to work doing your normal job. However, there a times when your medical coverage is covered even while you are back to work. These issues are better dealt with on an individual basis with your attorney.


When you're injured, you should seek the advise of an attorney as soon as possible. When you try to represent yourself, the insurance company is required by their company to offer you the absolute minimum settlement possible, if any at all. In order to protect your rights under the workers compensation laws, you should seek legal advise before signing anything that would, in effect, give up your rights to medical treatment or monetary compensation.


Your employer, regardless of how much he may genuinely care for you as an employee, knows that the longer you are off work, the more it costs him. He or she will want you back on the job as soon as possible; either at your regular job, or some type of modified position. Be aware that if you are brought back in a modified position, the employer only has to pay you 85% of your pre-injury wage. Workers' compensation pays the difference.


Unlike civil cases or criminal cases, there are no "up-front" fees to be paid to an attorney. The costs incurred by the law firm handling your case are deducted from your settlement and a modest amount of 12% to 15% that the attorney receives is dictated by the workers' compensation board