Getting hurt on the job creates several significant financial challenges. Professionals often need immediate medical care. They also face a temporary loss of income as they recover from their injuries or undergo treatment.
In cases where the doctor treating an injured professional recommends a leave of absence for their recovery, the injured professional might be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits to replace their lost wages.
How much financial support can employees receive during a workers’ compensation claim?
Professionals receive partial wage replacement
Workers’ compensation does not fully replace lost wages when workers qualify for disability benefits. There are multiple limitations on the disability benefits available.
Workers generally do not receive benefits for the first three days that they miss work unless their condition requires that they miss 14 days of work or more. Additionally, the wage replacement benefits provided do not match the workers’ wages.
At most, employees may be eligible for up to two-thirds or 66.67% of their average weekly wages through workers’ compensation disability benefits. Even that limited coverage is subject to a maximum benefit amount calculated based on average wages across the state.
Higher-paid professionals may find that workers’ compensation does not come close to their usual pay. Even so, disability benefits are often crucial to support people who cannot work due to on-the-job injuries or work-acquired medical conditions.
Consulting with a workers’ compensation attorney can help professionals calculate what disability benefits they might receive and minimize the complications they face during a claim. A lawyer can help manage the entire claims process, allowing a worker to focus on recovery and getting back to work as soon as possible.