Vocational Expert Tips: 4 Types of Workers Compensation

This year, about 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries were reported in the US. 15% of workplace injuries are in manufacturing. Meanwhile, the construction industry has the highest on-the-job fatality rates.

One of the reasons most states across the US require employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance is to provide important protections for employees who get injured or become ill on the job.

Workers’ compensation provides several types of coverage for employees if they need it. Read on to learn more about the types of workers’ compensation coverage and for tips from our vocational experts.

1. Workplace Medical Care

Workers’ compensation insurance should cover the related medical expenses if an employee gets injured on the job and needs medical care.

The employee needs to inform their boss of the injury or illness, and the employer files a claim with their workers’ compensation insurer. The worker would seek medical treatment.

Often for worker’s compensation, the insurance company will ask the injured party to see a specific medical provider if the injury isn’t emergent.

Medical care coverage includes things like:

• Hospital and emergency room visits
• Doctor’s appointments
• Medications
• Therapy and rehabilitation
• Recovery equipment

If the original injury creates other medical issues resulting from the original injury, workers’ compensation should also cover that care.

2. Workplace Disability

When a worker gets injured and unable to return to work, they may need disability. The disability part of workers’ compensation allows workers to be compensated for the lost wages while out on disability.

There are several types of disability, depending on the circumstances.

• • • • • Temporary total disability means the worker is injured badly enough that they must be off work for a period of time, but they expect to make a full recovery. Once healed, they can return to work without any limitations.
        • Temporary partial disability means the worker can work but less. Perhaps they work fewer hours and with fewer demands while their injury heals.
        • Permanent total disability means the injury is so significant that the worker will never return to work.
        • Finally, permanent partial disability means the worker can return to work once healed but will never be able to perform their previous job.

Employees may need to participate in a forensic vocational evaluation to define their level of disability.

3. Worker Rehabilitation

Often employees who are injured on the job need rehabilitation care. This might include treatments like physical therapy or occupational therapy.

The employee may need an employability assessment to determine their ability to function on the job.

If it’s likely that the employee can’t return to their previous job ever because of the impact of the injury, they might also need a vocational evaluation. This would help to define what they can do.

4. Employee Death Benefits and Funeral Expenses

If a worker loses their life on the job, workers’ compensation insurance will also pay for funeral expenses for the deceased’s family.

Many policies also provide death benefits in the form of lost wages. There are caps or limits on these, depending on the policy.

Understanding Workers’ Compensation for Your Workplace

Workers’ compensation provides essential protections for workers in case of injury. It helps to avoid litigation by ensuring the worker has medical coverage and lost wages.

If you have an injured employee who needs an employability assessment in Washington state, we can help. Contact us today so we can help with the vocational counseling and evaluations your injured worker needs.

Solutions Norhtwest Inc. is involved in personal injury, workers’ compensation, ergonomics, family law, and more.

Subscribe to our blog for more work related tips from Solutions Northwest, Inc., experts available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, WA.

Contact the Vocational Consultants at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below:

Workers Compensation: A Guide From Vocational Experts

Can you believe that there were almost 3 million workplace injuries and illnesses reported in the private industry last year?

It’s an unfortunate fact that many cases not only need forensic vocational evaluation but also workers compensation. Whether you’re an attorney, risk manager, or HR professional, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with workers comp. That way, you can make the most informed decisions possible.

Are you wondering what it entails? Keep reading to learn all about workers compensation.

What is Workers Compensation?

Workers comp is a program mandated by the government. It allows an employee to receive a certain amount of benefits after they’ve suffered an illness or injury on the job.

You could view workers comp as a type of disability safety net for employees. Knowing that they have access to healthcare and money in the event of an emergency can go a long way toward instilling peace of mind.

If there’s any cash involved, it’s often only partial coverage of the salary that the employee would have earned had they been able to go to work as usual.

How Does Workers Comp Work? Are There Consultants for Advice?

It’s important to emphasize that most workers compensation deals only cover relevant medical costs. The medical bills must be associated with the workplace injury or illness that occurred while they were working on the job.

This prevents someone from taking advantage of the program. For instance, they wouldn’t be able to treat a chronic issue that stemmed from an unrelated incident.

One important facet of workers comp is that it waives an employee’s right to sue if they accept it. This allows both the employee and the employer to be protected.

The exact rules and regulations surrounding workers compensation depend on the state you live in. Anyone who lives in Washington state, for example, should seek out an employability assessment in Washington state. That way, you can get the most accurate information and make a decision that’s informed.

Take Advantage of Expert Vocational Testimony

If you’ve never heard this before, it’s enough to know that it’s a type of employability assessment. While workers compensation is a necessary component of the private and public industries, that doesn’t mean you can’t assess various risks ahead of time. This will ensure that your client or company is as protected as possible.

A proper vocational evaluation and expert vocational testimony would involve medical file reviews, job analysis, vocational interest, earning capacity analysis, and much more.

Stay Proactive About Workers Compensation

Now that you’ve learned about workers compensation from our vocational experts, you can make more informed decisions as an attorney, risk manager, or HR professional. That way, you can prepare your client or employee and make sure that everything goes as smoothly as possible.

If you need a vocational expert or consultant who is familiar with Washington and Oregon workers compensation rules and regulations, look no further than our qualified team at Solutions Northwest Inc. – we can offer you valuable vocational evaluations and much more.

Contact us today to chat with our Vocational Experts to see what we can do for you!

At Solutions Northwest Inc., our vocational experts are involved in  ADA Accommodations , personal injury, workers’ compensation, and family law.

Contact us today to make an appointment.

Subscribe to our blog for more work related tips from Solutions Northwest, Inc., experts available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, WA.

Contact the Vocational Consultants at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below: