Workplaces are designed to keep employees safe. Creating a safe environment is one of the primary responsibilities of an employer. However, accidents are unavoidable, leading to injured employees. When this occurs, the employer is liable to provide workman’s compensation for the injured or ill worker.
Workman’s compensation — sometimes called worker’s compensation or worker’s comp — is a government-mandated program that helps employees get benefits in case they’re involved in a workplace accident. It’s an essential thing that protects workers from financial debt, especially in a place like Minnesota, which has about 2.8 million working individuals. Learn what it is and how to file your claim by reading below.
Workman’s Comp in Minnesota: Some Basic Ideas
If we look at workman’s compensation by its function, it’s essentially insurance for employees. Only this time, it’s the employers who are paying for the premium. When someone is injured on the floor or gets sick because of working conditions, they can file for compensation to pay for medical expenses and lost salary.
This is a standard business requirement in the country, but laws can differ from state to state. For example, Minnesota is one of the few states where noncitizens are eligible to file for compensation. In addition, the workman’s comp in Minnesota maxes out to $850 a week. Other states have higher or lower rates, depending on the mandate.
Because of these differences from each state, injured workers need to find legal professionals who are familiar with a state’s laws. This way, they can maximize the benefits they can get without having to go through the complicated legal proceedings. A workman’s compensation attorney can also help them determine if they’re eligible for compensation in the first place.
Importance of Workman’s Compensation
Workman’s compensation is mandated for every business because of the following reasons.
For Employees
Workplace injuries can be as benign as sprains or as bad as amputations and vision loss. Whatever the case, the employee will need to spend days to months in a healthcare institution to heal from these issues, which can be a significant expense.
Coverage Healthcare Costs
Injury caused by accidents at work can leave employees incapacitated for a period of time. This is not limited to accidents. Sometimes, improper workplace practices, ergonomics, and other factors can lead to long-term issues like carpal tunnel or respiratory problems. This is prevalent in blue-collar industries, but office workers and those in similar fields aren’t immune to long-term effects.
Treating injuries and illnesses will lead to medical expenses, especially if major procedures were performed. Workman’s compensation helps alleviate these healthcare costs by reimbursing an equivalent amount and providing survivor benefits in some cases. If the employee dies because of the injury, then their dependents will be the ones receiving the compensation.
Compensation for Lost Salary
While an employee is in a hospital or at home recovering from an injury, they obviously won’t be able to report to work. This can harm their finances, as every day they aren’t working means lost income. Workman’s compensation can cover this lost salary and help an employee recover financially.
However, the amount an injured employee gets from workman’s compensation is typically lower than their full salary. In most states, it’s only about half of what workers receive in a given amount of time.
Rehabilitation
Recovery from injury, especially on the limbs, can sometimes require rehabilitation. This is an expensive procedure, but it’s necessary to bring back your normal movements. Workman’s compensation can cover the rehabilitation program costs for employees, so they won’t have to shoulder the financial burden.
For Employers
Workman’s compensation is mandated for all types of business. Since it’s a financial matter, most companies have workman’s compensation insurance to shoulder the expenses of each claim. How does workman’s compensation become important for businesses?
Encourages Workplace Safety
Workman’s compensation incentivizes business owners and employers to create a safe environment for their workers. This means proper and intensive training for use of equipment, the creation of comprehensive guidebooks for safety rules, and eliminating hazards that can lead to injuries.
Not only are employers lowering their premiums with these practices, but they’re also creating a conducive and safe environment where workers are efficient and happy. This can lead to better productivity and decreased instances of absences, further translating to increased revenue.
Avoid Legal Trouble
Understanding what workman’s compensation entails can help business owners protect themselves from legal and financial troubles. That’s why many employers have workman’s compensation insurance. Whenever a file is claimed, they can file a claim to the provider to get the funds for the injured employee. If the employee accepts the compensation, they cannot sue their employer in civil court.
Common Injuries Covered by Workman’s Compensation
If you aren’t sure that your injury is covered by workman’s compensation, you can find a worker’s compensation attorney in MN to help you out. With their assistance, you can determine if your injury has enough basis for a claim. Here are the most common injuries according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Strains: Torn or stretched muscles and tendons caused by repetitive movements like pulling and pushing
- Lacerations: Cuts from malfunctioning or improperly installed machines
- Punctures: Puncture wounds from sharp or pointed objects like knives and scissors
- Contusions: Discolored and painful bruises on different parts of the body caused by falls and bumps
- Sprains: Torn or stretched ligaments caused by repeated motions like those that cause strains
Need To File a Claim for Workman’s Compensation?
Getting an injury at work is already hard enough, so you shouldn’t have to go through the hassle of getting the compensation you deserve. That’s why it’s recommended to partner with a worker’s compensation attorney in MN, so they can take care of the whole thing.
At Osterbauer Law Firm, we have the experience to handle all the proceedings in workman’s compensation cases. Our attorneys will help you get the compensation you deserve for medical bills, rehabilitation, and lost salary. To schedule an appointment, contact us today.
