We go to work every day expecting to come home safely and in one piece to our families. Unfortunately, workplace accidents occur every day, causing completely avoidable injuries to workers across the country.
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows there were 6,500 recordable nonfatal workplace injuries or illnesses that occurred in Wyoming during 2022, and an additional 34 workers suffered fatal accidents that year.
If you or a loved one has been injured while working or suffered an illness due to workplace hazards, a qualified Etna workers’ compensation lawyer is ready to assist you with your claim. Our legal team at Edwards Law Office, P.C. will help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
What Is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation covers lost wages and medical expenses for an employee who has suffered a workplace illness or injury. It generally does not cover any kind of noneconomic or non-financial costs, such as pain and suffering or emotional trauma. According to the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services (DWS), there are different benefits available for injured workers, which are broken down into the following categories:
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD): This applies to workers whose physician certifies that they are unable to return to work and they will lose wages due to workplace injury or illness. These benefits will cover the wages lost while the worker is injured.
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): When a physician clears the injured worker to return to work in a limited capacity, that is light-duty or modified-duty, then the worker may qualify for Temporary Partial disability, which will cover the loss of wages since the worker cannot work to the extent that they could prior to their injury.
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): Also referred to as “loss of earnings” benefits, PPD benefits are for injured workers who cannot return to work in the same capacity that they were at before their injured occurred. These benefits are intended to cover wages the injured worker can no longer earn due to their permanent injury.
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD): This benefit is only paid to workers whose injuries prevent them from performing any meaningful or gainful work. That means they are unable to return to any kind of work due to permanent injury.
- Death benefits: In the unfortunate event that a worker is killed on the job or dies because of the injury they’ve sustained, the family or other beneficiaries can file for death benefits. These benefits can cover funeral or burial costs as well as assist the family financially after the loss of household income.
Additionally, injured workers can receive an impairment rating, which is an evaluation performed by a licensed physician who determines if you have a permanent loss of physical function due to your injury. If this applies to your case, you may be eligible for Permanent Partial Impairment benefits, or, depending on the severity of your rating, you may be eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation benefits, both of which your lawyer can further explain to you.
It is a common misconception that if you are responsible for the workplace accident that caused your injury, you cannot receive workers’ compensation benefits. That is not always the case, though it may complicate your claim, so we recommend contacting Edwards Law Office, P.C.
What To Do After Your Workplace Accident
Immediately after your on-the-job accident, depending on the severity of the incident, you may be rushed to the emergency room, or you may just be unsure of what you’re supposed to do. Even the most minor of injuries can cause people to be confused, but it’s important for your health and safety and the success of your workers’ compensation claim to follow these steps as best you are able:
- Seek medical attention immediately, even if you believe your injury is not that severe
- Report the incident to your employer, preferably no later than 72 hours after your injury occurred
- Gather paperwork to support your claim with the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services (DWS)
- Reach out to an Etna workers’ compensation lawyer
The DWS, any employee who has been injured while on the job must file a Report of Injury form within 10 days of their injury. The DWS recommends that injured employees fill out the form in its entirety with their employer to ensure that all information is correct and then the employee must sign the form before it is sent in. Knowing which forms are needed and what the deadlines are can be complicated, which is why reaching out to our office is essential to the success of your claim.
Why You Should Hire a Star Valley Attorney
You might think that filing a workers’ compensation claim is straightforward and easy, however, that is not always the case. Sometimes, an employer or the DWS might deny a claim, citing that you were not performing duties within your scope of work, or some other reason. This is when having a competent Etna workers’ compensation attorney on your side is beneficial.
Your Edwards Law Office, P.C. lawyer will handle all the nuances of your claim and work with you every step of the way to ensure the success of your case. If you’ve been injured while working, you’re likely still recovering and the last thing you need is to worry about how you’re going to pay your bills or put food on the table for your family while you’re out of work.
Contact our office today and see how we can best assist you. Contact an Etna workers’ compensation lawyer for a free consultation today.