What Type of Compensation Is Available Through a Workers’ Compensation Claim?

Have you been injured? Call or text Hessig & Pohl at 502-777-1111

Workplace injuries are a leading cause of accidental injury in Kentucky and across the United States. Depending on the nature of the accident and the severity of an employee’s injuries, it is common for someone to miss days, weeks or even months of work. In more serious cases, an injured employee may not ever be able to return to their previous position. On top of this, workers will often have to deal with hefty medical bills related to their treatment.

The Kentucky workers’ compensation program allows injured workers to pursue a claim for compensation based on the injuries they sustain in an on-the-job accident. There are several types of workers’ comp benefits available, including the following:

Medical Coverage Benefits: Most people who are injured in a Kentucky workplace accident accrue significant medical bills. Workers’ compensation benefits will pay for most, if not all, of these expenses. Benefits may include payment for hospital stays, doctor’s visits, follow-up surgeries, medication, diagnostic tests, physical or occupational therapy and durable medical equipment, such as crutches and wheelchairs.

Temporary Total Disability (TTD) Benefits: A worker is eligible for TTD benefits if they miss work after being injured due to their employment. Weekly TTD benefits are two-thirds of an employee’s gross pay. Benefits will be paid until the employee can return to work, subject to an annual maximum.

Permanent Total Disability (PTD) Benefits: If an employee cannot return to work because of their workplace injury, they are entitled to PTD benefits up until they retire. Weekly PTD benefits are calculated by taking the gross average weekly wage. Successful PTD claims often result in a negotiated lump-sum payment by the insurance company, rather than continued payment over what could be decades.

Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) Benefits: If an employee is injured on the job, and can return to work in a limited capacity, the injured worker may receive PPD benefits. The intent behind awarding PPD benefits is to offset the reduction in pay an employee suffered due to their injury. Thus, a judge will determine an injured worker’s “percentage of disability” and then come up with a partial wage based on that percentage.

Death Benefits: In the event of a fatal Kentucky workplace accident, an employee’s surviving family members may be eligible for workers’ compensation death benefits. Typically, these benefits are payable to a surviving spouse or surviving children. The amount of Kentucky workers’ comp death benefits depends on several factors, including the deceased worker’s pre-injury earnings and the number of dependents they left behind. If a worker dies within four years of their injury, workers’ comp may pay an additional lump-sum to the deceased employee’s estate.

Recovering after a work-related accident can be challenging, as the rules governing Kentucky workers’ compensation claims are complicated. Anyone injured in a workplace accident, or families who have lost a loved one in an on-the-job accident, should reach out to a dedicated Kentucky workers’ comp attorney for immediate assistance.

Discuss Your Case with a Dedicated Louisville Workers’ Compensation Law Firm

If you or a loved one has been involved in an on-the-job accident, you need a law firm with experience handling Kentucky workers’ compensation claims. At Hessig & Pohl, we are prepared to help you pursue a claim for workers’ compensation, regardless of your profession or the seriousness of your injuries. Our skilled attorneys will aggressively negotiate with employers and their insurance companies on your behalf to help you obtain the maximum benefit amount. Over the years, we have helped hundreds of injured workers get the benefits they need and deserve. There is no risk or downside to contacting us to help you with your work injury claim, as the initial consultation is free, and we will never pressure you to proceed with your case. Contact us through this website, or call our office at (502) 777-1111.

by HP Migration | Nov 24, 2020 | 

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