How Much is My Workers' Compensation Claim Worth?

It is important that workers be aware of their rights and privileges under the law. Lack of awareness of the policies and processes that form Texas’ Workers' Compensation policies often results in unfair treatment of the employees who find themselves injured in the wake of a workplace accident in San Antonio.

Knowing how much your workers’ compensation claim is worth is essential not only for ensuring you are getting the fair compensation you deserve, but resting easy knowing your workers’ compensation claim was the right choice. If at any point you need to get started, speak with the team of knowledgeable San Antonio workers' compensation lawyers at Carabin Shaw.

There are a variety of factors that play a role in assessing the value of an individual’s workers' compensation benefits in the wake of a workplace accident. The amount that an injured worker can receive depends mostly on the financial equivalent of all damages caused by the injury, not just in medical expenses, but also in wages, property, and future opportunity. In some cases, it can even factor in losses of psychological wellbeing and happiness.

One of the biggest hits to an injured worker is not the injury itself, but the missing work and income that comes with it. This is especially true if the injury or illness results in permanent disability and an impaired ability to return to work or find new employment in San Antonio.

There are for subtypes of income benefits that address different needs, from compensating the loss of the employee's average weekly wage to ensuring financial dependents of the injured worker don’t suffer as well:

• Temporary Income Benefits: If your injury causes you to miss more than seven days of work, you become eligible to receive temporary benefits. These are equal to 70% of your average normal pay prior to the incident, after subtracting any other income you are still receiving.
• Impairment Income Benefits: Work injuries that result in permanent impairment will likely qualify you for additional benefits. Compensation for impairment income benefits use a doctor’s assessment of the percentage of your impairment; for each percentile, you gain three weeks of benefits.
• Supplemental Income Benefits: These additional benefits become an option when you meet the following requirements:
  • You have been assessed to have 15% or more physical impairment;
  • You have not returned to work or earning less than you did before injury;
  • You are still looking for employment;
  • And you have not accepted a settlement.
• Lifetime Income Benefits: When impairment reaches critical levels, lifetime income benefits provide more permanent solutions. These benefits are typically reserved for crippling injuries, blindness, and severe disfigurement.

After notifying your employer of your injury, you should be provided with information on healthcare providers supported by your workplace’s insurance policy. If the insurance program does not use a healthcare network, you have the right to choose your own doctor in San Antonio. Make sure which of these is the case; if the policy does specify a care network and you see an outside doctor, you may be stuck paying the bill.

Medical benefits should cover everything caused by the work injury accident, and everything includes more than you might guess. In fact, so many items may be directly and indirectly involved that you will likely need the experienced eyes of a lawyer to spot potential covered expenses like:

• prescription costs and refills
• medical equipment rentals
• rehabilitation and long-term care
• emotional trauma
• dietary needs
• and more.

It isn’t uncommon that employers and insurance companies try to avoid properly compensating a worker who has been injured on the job. In addition to being a right-to-work city, San Antonio businesses are not required to maintain workers’ compensation insurance. When they try to shirk their duty, you need a San Antonio work injury accident attorney.

Physicians employed by corporate insurers can undermine the severity of a workplace injury to undervalue your claim, and injured employees would often find themselves in a better position with a legal advocate on their side. This is why a skilled team of accident and injury attorneys can be a crucial asset in favor of injured employees.

You should know how much your workers’ compensation claim is worth, and you should have every opportunity to receive it. If you or a loved one has been injured in a job-related accident in San Antonio, you'll want the support of a well-established team of accident and injury lawyers to fight for your proper compensation.

At Carabin Shaw, our attorneys have dedicated our entire careers to ensuring our neighbors are properly compensated for their work-related injuries. In the case of a workplace accident, don't hesitate to call the law offices of Carabin Shaw toll-free at 1.800.862.1260.