Imagine lifting a heavy box at work and feeling a pop in your back. The next morning, you are in the hospital and a neurologist is explaining the surgery he would be doing on your back the following day. It turns out that you have slipped a disc in your lower back because of the activities you were doing at work.

Due to your injury, you are facing several days in the hospital, major surgery and weeks of recovery. You are also facing the possibility that you will never fully recover from the injury. How will you pay the medical bills? What happens if you cannot return to work? How will you pay your rent if you do not have income?

Work-related accidents are the reason that workers’ compensation exists. An accident at work should not leave you in a bad economic position. If you have suffered a workplace injury, you might be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. A workers’ compensation attorney in the Lakeland area can help you file a claim or fight the insurance company’s denial of your claim. Read further for an overview of workers’ compensation.

Workers’ compensation defined

Workers’ compensation is an insurance policy that an employer purchases in order to pay for injuries that employees suffer related to work. Usually, a worker is entitled to benefits regardless as to who caused the injury. In most cases, if you receive workers’ compensation benefits, you give up the right to sue your employer for the injury.

Covered incidents

In general, workers’ compensation applies to any injury you suffer at work, whether it was your own fault or your employer’s. However, if a test reveals that you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of your accident, your employer might deny your claim.  Other reasons for a denial include the purposeful self-infliction of an injury or if you violated company policy or the law during the actions that led to the injury.

Benefits

Some of the benefits that you might receive include payments for your medical expenses, compensation for lost wages, and vocational rehabilitation services. Depending on the severity of your injury, you might also be entitled to compensation if the damage is permanent.  It is important to remember that workers’ compensation benefits do not include damages for pain and suffering. Furthermore, since you give up the right to sue your employer when you accept the benefits, you will not be able to take legal action to get compensation for pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one has suffered a work-related injury, you might be able to collect workers’ compensation benefits.