Types of Injuries Covered By Workers Compensation
Workers Compensation funding is cash advance against your pending worker’s compensation settlement, claim or lawsuit. Workers compensation covers injuries and diseases that might result from your job, but, when it comes time to claim, you will want to ensure that you know exactly what this type of insurance covers so that you do not get a nasty surprise once you have taken sick leave or paid off your medical expenses.
When working in an office, or in a cool job selling clothes or flowers, we don’t typically think about workers’ compensation or the types of injuries that can occur. The fact is that while it’s true, certain industries have a much higher rate of workplace injuries, these accidents can happen to anyone. Here are some examples of things that can happen and are covered by workers’ compensation.
The most obvious type is the simple injury, when an accident occurs and something physical breaks right on the spot. For example, a construction worker may be bringing up some wood to a high floor. While construction sites use some security features, accidents can still happen. The workers will typically be attached by a cable, but the cable may not be attached correctly, either by mistake or because of equipment failure. If the construction worker makes a mistake and falls, he can easily end up several floors below. This can mean broken bones and a long recovery time. Another example of a direct injury is if you work in an office, with office supplies. Often, an employee also has as part of his or her duties to fill up paper in the copiers. Accidents can happen, where the wrong door gets opened, and the searing hot drum gets into contact with a hand. The drums inside copying machines are extremely hot and can cause burns. This can lead to medical bills which would be covered by workers’ compensation.
A less obvious type of injury is a long lasting illness. For example, an office worker may, over time, develop carpal tunnel syndrome, which occurs after typing on a keyboard for long hours. This can be quite painful, and requires medication to bring the pain down. Or, another example would be a technician who is hired to maintain plumbing equipment in an old factory. After a few years, it’s discovered that toxic materials were used in the construction of the walls. This can cause some unforeseen diseases that develop over time, and require treatment. In this type of incident, it’s harder to get compensated, because it’s up to the employee to prove that the illness they have has been caused by their job description. However, if they can bring enough evidence, then the employer will have to cover them.
Overall, there are thousands of examples of injuries, everything from simple accidents to serious, long time diseases like cancer. It’s also not always something that occurs indoors or at a job site. A truck driver can easily be involved in a traffic accident, and because the truck was part of the job description, again workers’ compensation would cover it. The important thing is to be aware of what can happen and to try mitigating any danger. But if something does happen, you know what will be covered by your policy.
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