As a worker in Oklahoma City, suffering an injury on the job is a possibility regardless of the industry in which you work. Indeed, while construction workers and others involved in manual labor have an increased injury risk, office workers, healthcare workers, and more may all be involved in a workplace accident or develop a condition as a direct result of their occupation.
If you are harmed on the job in Oklahoma City, you may have the right to seek coverage through your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. Our lawyers at the office of Boettcher, Ingle, Devinney & Wicker can help.
What is Workers’ Compensation Insurance?
Workers’ compensation is a state-mandated no-fault insurance program that provides medical and wage loss benefits to workers who are injured while on the job or performing work-related tasks. Because the system is “no-fault,” injured workers do not need to prove negligence, nor are they barred from recovery if they contributed to their injuries. By virtue of the no-fault system, workers are simultaneously barred from filing a lawsuit directly against their employee for damages.
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SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY TODAYWho is Covered by Workers’ Compensation?
The vast majority of employees–not independent contractors–in the state of Oklahoma are covered under workers’ compensation insurance. Exceptions to this rule include certain workers in the agricultural industry, workers employed by an employer with five or fewer employees who are related to the employer, and certain other parties.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits
If you are injured on the job and are covered under workers’ compensation insurance, benefits that you may be able to recoup include:
- Medical benefits.Workers’ compensation pays for all of your necessary and reasonable medical benefits.
- Wage replacement benefits.In the event that your injury results in missed work for at least seven calendar days, you can recover wage replacement benefits. These benefits are available at a rate of 70% of your average weekly wage.
- Compensation for permanent disabilities.If you are permanently disabled, you will be compensated for this.
- Death benefits.While it is terrible to think about, if you or a loved one is killed while working, workers’ compensation insurance will pay death benefits to beneficiaries.
How to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim
To ensure that you are able to recover the maximum amount of compensation available to you, it is important that you know what steps to take following a workplace injury. To begin, you must provide your employer with notice of your injury as soon as possible after it occurs, but always within 30 days. You also have an obligation to attend medical appointments and follow prescribed treatment; if you do not, this could result in a denial of benefits.
Our Oklahoma City Workers’ Compensation Lawyer can Help
Our Oklahoma City workers’ compensation lawyers want to make sure that you are able to recover your full benefit amount after being injured at work. Unfortunately, workers’ compensation claims are often denied or lowballed to save insurance companies and employers money. To learn how we can represent you and increase the chances of you getting the settlement you deserve, call our law office today or request your free consultation using the contact form found online.
