Workers Compensation & Personal Injury Options Can Be Situational
Being injured on the job can be a complex matter, with legal issues and financial confusion being even more challenging than usual because of your injuries. You may be bombarded with requests to sign certain documents, which could conflict with your own needs when it comes to getting the compensation you deserve. Before signing anything, think carefully about your situation, what you should be entitled to, and how legal defense could help.
What Can Workers Compensation Do?
The workers compensation system varies by state, but is often dedicated to assisting with medical bills and a portion of your wages. If you're injured on the job, your employer may have a compensation insurance requirement that allows for this financial safety net to keep workers capable of recovering and keeping their personal lives intact in case of the injury.
For many jobs, safety equipment is designed to save lives. Injuries are an unfortunate result, but can be nearly guaranteed to happen. Cuts, bruises, and concussions are a constant danger for engineering jobs, construction site work, and many other professions. While it wouldn't be wise to encourage a hospital visit paid by your employer, it's good to know that the safety net exists.
Unfortunately, workers compensation has limits that vary per state. If your injuries could result in life-long injury with effects beyond your current employer, a personal injury case may be in your future.
Personal Injury for Higher Amounts of Compensation
An injury that results in life-long difficulty can be more expensive than a few medical visits and partial wages. Even a minor limp or eyesight problems could affect your ability to do well at your current job, look viable for a future job, or simply enjoy your personal life. In these cases, you need to look towards legal challenges, settlements (such as the famous structured settlement concept), or education and training assistance.
No matter what you demand in compensation, you need to make sure that it can prepare you for a successful future. To plan properly, consider two options that could be sought after individually or combined to benefit you.
A cash settlement can be a finite amount of money that compensates your injuries. You'll want enough money to take care of your current living expenses, but you'll also need to think about the rest of your life. Can this money buy a new career? Can you keep working and use this money as a safety net until retirement? It may not be possible to get enough money to be comfortable for the rest of your life, but a lawyer can help you plan for comfortable retirement.
Education and training can help you locate a new career path that could support you regardless of your injuries. Move from manual labor to a desk job, or try your hand at a technical industry that doesn't require a lot of walking or lifting. If you absolutely must overcome a disability, why not get a job designed to make your old job safer or more accessible to people with disabilities? There are many different career paths that can be opened up with job training or even financial assistance for college in compensation.
You have many options between workers compensation and personal injury claims, and there may be ways to use both systems to your benefit. Contact a workers compensation attorney, such as one from The Law Offices of Gregg Durlofsky, to discuss your financial needs, your medical condition, and ways to succeed in the coming legal challenges.
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