Getting injured at work can be devastating, considering the possible medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and reduction in earning power you may experience. Fortunately, Connecticut’s workers’ compensation program provides a safety net for employees who are injured or fall ill at work. An experienced Enfield workers’ compensation attorney can advise if an injury or illness might qualify for coverage under the state program.
At Berman & Russo we can utilize our familiarity with the law and the various workers’ compensation procedures to save you time and stress. Our legal team can also help maximize your available benefits by accounting for all the costs and losses associated with your workplace illness or injury. Reach out today to learn more about workers’ compensation benefits in Enfield.
As explained in Chapter 568 of the Connecticut General Statutes, workers’ compensation insurance provides a relief package to an eligible employee who is injured while doing work for their employer. The injured person may qualify to receive a range of benefits, such as coverage for their qualifying medical expenses under Connecticut General Statutes § 31-294d and supplemental wage loss payments for as long as their condition prevents them from working. The exact amount and type of lost earnings the person can receive depends on how significantly their injuries impact their ability to function.
Examples of what wage loss payments may be available to a worker include temporary total or partial disability and permanent partial disability benefits. If the employee cannot ever return to their old position because of their injury, their employer may also pay for them to participate in job retraining under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-283a. Other types of financial or vocational support may be available to those who are hurt at work or get reinjured while attempting to return to the office.
Enfield workers’ compensation attorneys can help those injured on the job by connecting them with the appropriate benefits available to them. Our seasoned lawyers can also use their knowledge and training to combat tactics employers and insurance companies may try to use to wrongly deny a worker’s claim.
Workers’ compensation benefits are awarded regardless of whether the employer is at fault for what occurred; however, the employee needs to prove the policy covers them and follow a specific procedure to request relief. Conn. Gen. Stat. §31-294b requires the injured worker to immediately tell their employer about their injury or illness, whether the wound or disease came from a one-time event or chronic exposure or use (as in the case of carpal tunnel syndrome). Once the employer receives notice of the employee’s condition, they should give the worker the appropriate form published or approved by the Workers’ Compensation Commission.
As explained in Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-294c, the employee should prepare and send this form to the Workers’ Compensation Commission or their employer within a certain amount of time after the accident or when they show symptoms of an occupational disease. This second document is a formal notice or request for compensation and initiates the claims process.
Once the employee submits this form, the employer’s insurance provider should begin investigating the claim, which may involve having conversations with the employee, any witnesses, or the employer to determine what happened. After reviewing the evidence, which may include looking through the worker’s medical records, the insurer will either reject or accept the claim. An experienced Enfield workers’ compensation benefits attorney can help the employee meet their reporting obligation and advocate for their rights during the claims process.
You have been injured at work, and you deserve to receive a full and fair settlement to address your losses. Instead of navigating the complex and tedious workers’ compensation process on your own, which can get in the way of your healing, consider the benefits of partnering with an experienced attorney.
Call Berman & Russo today to schedule a free consultation to discuss the available workers’ compensation benefits in Enfield. We have decades of experience helping injured workers access the support they need, and we welcome the chance to do the same for you.
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