Cambridge is home to some of the most common industries for workplace injuries, including healthcare and education facilities, as well as the manufacturing, transportation, and construction industries. When a worker suffers a workplace injury or illness, they typically can obtain coverage for medical treatment and wage loss through a claim against their employer’s workers’ compensation coverage. Nearly every employer in Cambridge is required to carry workers’ compensation coverage to protect their employees from the financial impacts of injuries that occur on the job.
If you were injured in a workplace accident or suffered a workplace illness due to toxic exposure or other workplace conditions, an experienced Cambridge workers’ compensation lawyer could help you understand your right to these benefits and the process involved in receiving them.
If you have been injured at work or diagnosed with a workplace illness, it is important to inform your employer as soon as possible and seek prompt medical attention. This allows your employer to begin the paperwork that they will need to submit to their insurer within five days of your report. The insurer then has 14 days to either accept or deny the claim, or to provide temporary benefits as they investigate the claim. Workers whose claims have been denied can then appeal the decision. It is always crucial to enlist the help of a Cambridge lawyer before filing a workers’ compensation claim to ensure you avoid mistakes that could lead to a claim denial.
Workers’ compensation provides injured workers with benefits that include wage replacement and medical coverage. Wage replacement involves the injured worker receiving a portion of their average weekly wage before the accident. These benefits can be temporary, lasting until the worker can return to work either in the position they held before or in a new position that is more accommodating to the injury. Benefits may also be permanent if the injury prevents the worker from being able to perform any type of work. These benefits are often available after temporary benefits have run out and may cover two-thirds of the worker’s average weekly wage before the accident occurred.
Medical coverage includes the cost of all necessary and reasonable expenses related to the treatment of the injury. Other benefits available through the state’s workers’ compensation program include vocational rehabilitation and death benefits for dependents of workers who are fatally injured.
An attorney in Cambridge could review the details of your case to determine what types of workers’ compensation benefits you may be entitled to and pursue maximum coverage.
A workers’ compensation lawyer is able to provide guidance, helping injured workers in Cambridge understand every step of the process. They may assist in gathering documentation, filing the claim, or even representing the claimant in the appeals process. They may handle negotiations with the insurer servicing the employer’s workers’ compensation policy. A lawyer could also use their understanding of the law to help a worker avoid errors that could result in a claim denial, such as delayed reporting or missing medical records related to the injury.
If you have been injured in a workplace accident, the clock is ticking on your ability to file a claim. Let our team help you understand the important steps you need to take and answer the questions you have about your claim. If you have already filed a claim and it was denied, we can discuss your options for filing an appeal. Contact us for a free case evaluation with a Cambridge workers’ compensation lawyer today.
Pellegrini, Seeley, Ryan & Blakesley
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