Disability Benefits Under Workers' Compensation

Disability Benefits Under Workers' Compensation

When you are injured at work, there is a good chance that you are entitled to benefits under Alabama's workers' compensation program. Employers with five or more employees are required to carry workers' compensation insurance, and this insurance provides injured employees with benefits for their medical expenses and lost income. When workers suffer a disabling injury, they may also be eligible for temporary or permanent disability benefits.

Getting the disability benefits you deserve under workers’ compensation can be a challenge, and you are already dealing with enough stress. Allow a Montgomery workers’ compensation lawyer to handle your workers’ comp disability claim.

Disability Coverage

If the employee has a temporary disability due to a workplace injury that prevents them from returning to work, another set of benefits kicks in. Workers' compensation insurers might need to issue temporary disability payments to compensate the employee for lost wages suffered due to their injury. This is true whether the temporary disability is total - meaning the worker cannot perform any work - or partial, which means the injury causes them to perform less work than usual. 

If the injury sustained by the employee results in a permanent partial or total disability for the worker, prohibiting them from ever returning to their occupational position or from returning to work whatsoever, permanent disability benefits should be paid to that employee. These benefits can continue indefinitely for the employee’s working life or until they reach an insurance settlement agreement. 

How Much Can You Receive?

Disability benefits from a workers’ compensation program will depend on the duration of the injury, its impact on the employee's ability to return to work, and the employee’s prior earnings. These benefits will vary widely from case to case. Always have a workers’ compensation attorney review your benefit package to ensure you are receiving the full amount you deserve under your specific circumstances.

If you have a long-term disability, the insurance company will likely make a settlement offer instead of continuing to pay monthly benefits for years to come. A lump-sum settlement should be enough to cover your future medical care and lost wages, but the insurance company will often begin with a low offer. 

Never accept any settlement for workers’ comp disability without first consulting with an attorney. If you receive an inadequate settlement, you can be responsible for any future costs or losses that the settlement did not cover. You never want to find yourself in this situation, so always seek the legal guidance you need. 

Call Us Today to Schedule a Consultation with a Montgomery Workers' Compensation Lawyer

At the Law Office of Richard F. Matthews Jr., we have helped injured workers obtain the full benefits they are entitled to under workers’ compensation laws. We help clients receive the necessary benefits to relieve the financial stress of a disabling injury, whether the disability is temporary or permanent. To schedule a consultation with an experienced Montgomery workers’ comp attorney, visit our website online or call us at 334.398.8408 today.