November 16, 2016
Workman’s Compensation was first established in an attempt to protect both the employer and the employee and to limit or eliminate the need for lengthy litigation. Today there are many twists and turns in workman’s comp cases that can leave both employer and employee confused and frustrated. More often than not, if you as the employee are injured on the job, you will file a claim and walk through the process and return to work. Often these simple cases do not need representation. However, there are times when it is in your best interest as the employee to get a workers comp lawyer in Anchorage, Alaska involved.
Worker’s Compensation Review
There are some essential elements of worker’s comp law that we need to start with. Benefits are made available to you as an employee if you are hurt or injured on the job. Benefits are not dependent on establishing who was at fault, all that needs to be confirmed is that the injury happened on the job and is related in some way to the work you performed as the employee. You will receive a non-taxable income equal to two-thirds (2/3) of your average wages on a weekly or bi-weekly schedule. Additionally, as the injured employee you are due medical care for your injury, compensation for any permanent injury, and any necessary job retraining. These are the basics you should expect over the course of a workers’ comp case.
You Can Often Represent Yourself When:
- There is no dispute about the injury happening at work
- The damage is minor; for example, a cut that only needs a few stitches or a twisted ankle without complications
- Little or no work was missed due to your injury
- There are no pre-existing conditions involved
For more details on when to hire a workman’s comp attorney see part 2 of our blog by clicking here.