Worker’s Compensation

Working in Stratford is a great opportunity for most people, but all jobs carry some inherent risk. What happens if you are injured while you are on the job in Stratford? In most cases, you will have an opportunity to recover benefits through the worker’s compensation process. On this page, you can learn more about worker’s compensation and how to proceed if you have been injured at work.

The Worker’s Compensation System

Worker’s compensation is available to those who work in Stratford as well as those working throughout the state of Connecticut. In fact, every state in America has some kind of worker’s compensation system to help injured workers, though specifics will vary by state. Worker’s compensation is an insurance program designed to be mutually beneficial for employees and employers after a workplace injury occurs. The benefit for employees is that it is a system through which they can get compensation for their injuries, time off of work, and long-term disability through their employer. The benefit for employers is that this is not a personal injury lawsuit process, so companies can avoid messy lawsuits.

One question that we get a lot at our law firm regards who is eligible. Many workers worry that if they were partially or fully responsible for an accident at work that led to their injury, they won’t be eligible to recover benefits. While this is the case in some states, it is not the case in Connecticut. Even if a worker partially or even fully caused the accident that led to their injury, they could still qualify for worker’s compensation. Of course, each specific scenario will vary, and there are many worker’s compensation claims that are not accepted by employers. However, you should feel confident in applying for worker’s compensation even if you think you contributed to your injuries.

Filing a Claim

One of the most important things that you should do after you are injured at work is inform your employer. Don’t give your employer the opportunity to question the timeline for your injury. Once you tell your employer about a potential injury, see the company doctor to get an official diagnosis. Once these steps are completed, you can file an official Stratford worker’s compensation claim.

Some things that you might be entitled to compensation for include:

• A full day’s pay for the day that you were injured.
• Out-of-pocket medical expenses related to your injuries, including hospital bills, treatment bills, surgery, etc.
• Compensation to pay for loss of work while you recover from your injury.
• Money to compensate for permanent disability or damage that prevents you from returning to the job you previously held.
• The opportunity for “light duty” while you recover from your injury. This light duty within the company will be less strenuous than your previous job as you recover from your injury.

To ensure that you file the proper forms in the right place, it is a good idea to work with a Stratford worker’s compensation lawyer. Such a lawyer can make sure that your paperwork is filed properly and there is no delay in starting your worker’s compensation process. We are here to help – contact our team for more information.