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Understanding the Rules of Workers’ Compensation Benefits – What You Can and Cannot Do

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Worker's Comp InjurySuffering from an injury at work can be a difficult and stressful experience. It not only affects the physical and mental well-being of a person but also can cause a financial burden. If you’ve suffered a work-related injury or a work-related illness, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. However, it’s important to understand the rules and limitations of workers’ compensation benefits to ensure that you receive the proper compensation.

File a Workers’ Compensation Claim as Soon as Possible

One of the most important things you should do when you have suffered a work-related injury or a work-related illness is to file a workers’ compensation claim as soon as possible. Failing to file a claim within the specified time frame can result in the loss of your right to workers’ compensation benefits. After submitting your workers’ compensation claim, your employer should provide you with a list of approved doctors and specialists that you can choose from for evaluation and treatment.

Attend Medical Appointments and Follow Medical Advice

Once you have filed a workers’ compensation claim, it is important to attend all medical appointments and follow medical advice. This not only helps to ensure that you get the appropriate treatment for your injury or illness, but it also helps to validate your claim. If you fail to attend medical appointments or refuse to follow medical advice, you may jeopardize your claim for workers’ compensation benefits. [Read more…] about Understanding the Rules of Workers’ Compensation Benefits – What You Can and Cannot Do

Injured on the Job? 3 Things to Immediately Do

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Injuries on the job are common, but a severe injury may affect your ability to work for that day, for a week, or even for several years. In this case, you may be entitled to damages from medical bills and lost wages. It’s important to know what to do after sustaining a work injury – otherwise, you may not receive the benefits you deserve. Following the proper procedures will protect your rights as an employee, including your right to worker’s compensation. Here are three important things to do immediately after a workplace accident.

1) Report Your Job-Related Injury in a Timely Manner

If an accident happens at work, it’s best to report it to your employer immediately, if possible. Establishing the timeline early makes it easier to track your condition in case it worsens, allowing insurance companies to trace the injury back to the workplace accident. Many states also have a deadline for reporting your injury. A report to your employer will likely be required for you to receive worker’s compensation. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to make this your first step.

2) Get a Medical Evaluation

After getting injured on the job and reporting your injury to your employer, [Read more…] about Injured on the Job? 3 Things to Immediately Do

What To Do If an Injury is Keeping You From Working

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An injury keeping you from your workplace can be especially difficult if it impacts your financial stability. This article highlights a handful of ideas for things to do when your injury keeps you from working.

Consider Alternate Ways to Make Money

When you have an injury that is preventing you from working in the traditional fashion, you might consider alternative ways to make money. After all, even if you make a fraction of what you would otherwise, making some money is still better than making none.

Work from Home. If you’re lucky enough to have a sympathetic boss, you might be able to convince them to allow you to continue your regular job from home. One advantage the pandemic created was normalizing working from home. Working on a computer doesn’t require your presence in the office, and having you work from home could be beneficial to both you and your employer, given that they wouldn’t have to find someone else to take on your responsibilities.

Freelancing. Alternatively, one of the best ways to make money away from a traditional workforce is to invest in freelance efforts. There are many potential areas that you could engage in freelancing, and often the best way to start is to simply dive into an area you enjoy. The more experience you have in a field, the more likely you are to get work. But as long as you are applying and are enthusiastic, you will probably find some work to get the ball rolling.

Pursue Compensation for Your Injury

If your injury is the fault of another party, such as your employer, then you might be entitled to compensation, especially if it is affecting your ability to work. In fact, [Read more…] about What To Do If an Injury is Keeping You From Working

How to Fund a Personal Injury Lawsuit to Get the Settlement You Need

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If you’ve been injured in an accident or by someone’s negligence, you may have decided to consult an attorney to get legal relief. This could include compensation to cover expenses stemming from your injuries, such as lost wages, medical services and treatments, hospital costs, physical or occupational rehabilitation, repairs to your vehicle if impacted, and other possible monetary considerations.

Personal injury attorneys will file a lawsuit to protect your rights and secure a court judgment. However, even if the attorney agrees to wait on getting paid until the case is resolved there will be costs along the way for witnesses, documentation and other things. Unfortunately, you may have to pay for these out-of-pocket expenses. Here are some ways for you to cover the expenses you may be expected to pay.

Take Out a Personal Loan

You may be eligible to be approved for a personal loan, or signature loan, that will finance your legal expenses. This type of loan does not require collateral like a car title or a second mortgage. Typically, the prevailing interest rate will apply as you make payments until the lawsuit is concluded.

[Read more…] about How to Fund a Personal Injury Lawsuit to Get the Settlement You Need

A UK Guide to Getting Back to Work After an Injury

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Injuries and accidents are very debilitating to your everyday way of life, so when you find yourself in such a situation, one of the biggest concerns for people that can cause a lot of stress is wondering what will happen about work. Will there be a financial loss and time off work? When you have to try to get back into your work routine after you’ve been absent for a significant period of time, it can be difficult. Your confidence may also have taken a substantial knock, especially if the injury occurred in your actual workplace.

Here is a guide for returning to work after an injury, with your safety in mind.

Prepare Your Routine in Advance

During your period of injury, your routine may have included not much movement or significant rest and sleep periods. This means your body clock will be out of sync, so it’s a good idea before returning to work to try and set an alarm and get back into the same wake and movement routine you would have during your work schedule.

This can help it to be less of a shock on the first morning returning to work.

During your period of recovery, pay attention to your condition worsening, as any issues with misdiagnosis or new issues which have arisen may be a result of medical negligence, in which case you can gain advice from a medical negligence solicitor.

Speak with Your Supervisor or Manager

It’s important to have a meeting with your superior when you return to work, just to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Your boss may have been in touch with you while you were absent and may be aware of the extent of your injuries, whether minor or severe, but a meeting upon returning to work is important regardless.

Even if this is just an informal chat, it can help your boss to understand your current state and whether you need any extra allowances – such as not being able to complete certain tasks as quickly as you usually would – and it can also help you to feel more comfortable and open about the effects of your injury.

Don’t Take on More Than You Can Handle

If you are physically or mentally unable to directly return to your full-time workload following your injury, you may prefer to phase yourself back in to work. This could be working from home or even working part-time instead of full-time just until you can rebuild your confidence and your workplace ability. Don’t push yourself too hard, and be open and honest about the workload you’re capable of managing following your injury.

Take Care of Yourself

This is a necessary step even without accident or injury, but it’s even more important when on the road to recovery. Ensure that you have time in your work schedule for regular breaks and that you are eating healthy lunches and staying hydrated and well-nourished during the course of your workday.

Work gets busy but this shouldn’t mean that you sacrifice any breaks or the opportunity to eat and drink while you are fulfilling your duties.

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How To Get Back to Work After a Long Illness

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Very few people are healthy 100% of the time, so everyone has to take time off work every now and then. However, a sick day here and there, because you have a cold or the Flu, is entirely different than needing to take many weeks or even months off work due to a chronic condition, accident or due to having to recover from surgery.

When this happens, it can be hard to return to work. Depending on how long you have been away, things can change, and you might be worried that your job won’t be the same anymore. Or you might be concerned that the job you once did will be too strenuous for you now. Whatever your concerns, it’s a good idea to have a plan to deal with them so you can more easily return to work after an illness.

Use The Time Wisely

Being sick is never any fun, and it can be extremely boring, especially if you have had surgery and feel fine but still need to rest. If this is the case, then make the most of the time you have off to ensure that by the time you get back to work you are entirely ready. You can read up on any new company policies, or research industry news to see what changes might be coming,

Alternatively, you might use your time to think about what it is you want to do with your life, and this could be the ideal time to take a class or gain an additional qualification that will benefit you. You can work on additional certifications to keep your skills up to date for instance if you are in the IT industry you could work on getting your MCSE certification. If you are working in healthcare you can obtain an MS in healthcare analytics,  or if you work in business/Management you can work on an online MBA.

Have Your Paperwork Ready

Not all roles are going to require paperwork when you go back to them, and not all company policies demand it. What about yours? If you’re not sure, check your contract and the terms of your employment, or ask your manager about what you need to bring with you on your first day back. Usual paperwork includes medical clearance from your surgeon or doctor to prove you are fit for work again.

If you don’t have the right documents when you go back, then your first day may be a slog of finding the right paperwork and getting it authorized, which is inconvenient and time-consuming.

Work with Your Doctor

Your doctor will be best equipped to determine when a reasonable date is for your return to work. He/she will probably ask what type of work you do and how strenuous it is. Depending on your injury even sitting might be a problem but your Doctor should be able to determine when it is safe for you to return to work. Your doctor might have to coordinate with your HR department on some accommodations they will have to make for your return.

Arrange A Phased Return

The mistake that a lot of people – employers and employees alike – make is to assume that the person who has been away is going to come back as though nothing has happened and will be able to fit right back in where they left off. Although this would be great and maybe the case for you, it isn’t always this way, and for many, the return to work can be a strain if you have been seriously sick.

If you need to arrange a phased return to work, speak to your boss and/or your HR department about it. You might start on part-time or reduced hours, or you might only work three days a week, to begin with. Gradually, as you get stronger and your confidence grows, you can go back to full time.

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Hardhats Required: 4 Things to Do after an Accident at Work

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Those who have gotten hurt at work may find that their lives are permanently altered. For instance, they may experience chronic pain, experience changes in mood or find themselves unable to walk or talk. Let’s take a look at what injured workers should do in the aftermath of a workplace accident.

Notify Your Employer of the Injury

The first thing an injured worker should do is notify their employer about the injury. In the event of a severe injury, it may be possible to have someone else get in touch with a manager while the injured party seeks treatment. A representative from the company should file an accident report and take note of if, when and where an individual was initially treated.

See a Doctor

Even if an injury is minor, it is important to see a doctor after a workplace accident. This is because symptoms may not present themselves right away. For instance, a concussion or whiplash may not be apparent immediately after a fall or motor vehicle collision. Cuts or lacerations could become infected if they are not treated properly. Additionally, a doctor’s evaluation may be beneficial when applying for workers’ compensation benefits.How Workers Comp works

Hire a Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Typically, anyone hurt in a workplace accident is entitled to have [Read more…] about Hardhats Required: 4 Things to Do after an Accident at Work

Long-Term Disability Benefits: How to Manage Finances after an Injury

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When you’ve been injured, life can change dramatically, temporarily or permanently. A decreased income can often lead to a lot of financial stress, making recovery more difficult. There are a few things you can do to ease the stress.

Create a Budget

There are two steps to this. First, create a budget that outlines all of your current expenses. Then, create a budget that works for your new, reduced income. Look at the first budget to see which, if any, of your current expenses can be immediately cut.

Refinance or Ask for a Forbearance on Your Mortgage

If you own your own home, [Read more…] about Long-Term Disability Benefits: How to Manage Finances after an Injury

What Happens to Your Finances When You Go out on Workers’ Comp

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Workplace injuries can and do happen to many people each day. While those who work in high-risk or dangerous jobs are more likely to suffer from a workplace injury, the reality is that issues like falling, tripping and more can happen to any worker at any time. Workers’ compensation insurance is designed to help injured workers pay for their expenses while they are recovering from an injury. However, it is important to understand more fully what happens to your family’s finances when you are out on workers’ comp. This understanding may inspire you to take action to address a possible issue before you find yourself in dire financial straits.

Your Medical Expenses May Skyrocket

Many workplace injuries result in substantial medical bills in a very short period of time. These bills may [Read more…] about What Happens to Your Finances When You Go out on Workers’ Comp