Have you been injured on the job? If so, you may have unpaid medical bills and lost wages as a result of your work-related accident. A workers’ compensation attorney experienced in Oklahoma personal injury laws can fight on your behalf to protect your rights and help you get the money you deserve.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
What Is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation is an insurance program providing employees who are injured on the job with compensation for disability, as well as medical and rehabilitation benefits. An injured worker has the right to file a claim regardless of who is “at fault” for the accident that caused his or her injuries. These benefits can also be claimed by surviving dependents in cases of accidental death.
Compensation for Workplace Injuries
Workers’ compensation benefits typically offer a worker two-thirds of their income and cover the costs of any medical treatment resulting from the injury.
In a workers’ compensation claim, you could be owed:
- Medical bills
- Partial wages
- Permanent Partial Impairment (PPI)
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD)
In some cases, workers might also be entitled to compensation beyond their workers’ comp benefits, especially if a third-party was responsible for their injuries. That third party might be a property owner, equipment manufacturer, or vehicle driver. Compensation in third-party liability claims typically has the potential to be far more than workers’ compensation.
Workplace injuries caused by third parties could result in compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- All past and future lost income
- Pain and suffering
If you’re not sure what type of claim you should pursue, simply contact the Oklahoma City workplace injury lawyers at Parrish DeVaughn for a free consultation. Let us hear what happened and help you determine the best path forward for your case.
What should you do after a workplace injury?
- Report the injury to your supervisor immediately.
- Seek immediate medical attention.
- Make sure to keep all of your appointments.
- Keep your employer up to date with your situation and progress.
- Follow your doctor’s treatment plan.
- Contact your employer as soon as your doctor releases you for work.
Filing an Oklahoma workers’ compensation claim is time-consuming, and often confusing. By having a workers’ compensation attorney as your advocate, you can be sure that all necessary paperwork is complete and accurate. With offices in Oklahoma City, Edmond, and Tulsa, our lawyers at the Parrish DeVaughn Law Firm understand the process and will guide you through it step-by-step as you focus on getting better.
You may be entitled to financial compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent Partial Impairment (PPI)
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD)
Understanding the Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Workers’ compensation benefits in Oklahoma are designed to provide financial assistance and medical care to employees who suffer job-related injuries or illnesses. The types of benefits available can vary depending on the nature and severity of the injury or illness, but typically include:
- Medical Benefits: Covers all reasonable and necessary medical expenses related to the injury or illness, including hospital stays, doctor visits, medications, physical therapy, and any required medical equipment or devices.
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD) Benefits: Provides wage replacement for the time an injured worker is completely unable to work due to their injury or illness. These benefits are typically paid at a rate of 70% of the employee’s average weekly wage, subject to certain limits.
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) Benefits: Compensates workers who sustain permanent impairments or disabilities that limit their ability to perform certain job functions or earn their pre-injury wages. The amount of these benefits is based on the degree of impairment and the worker’s average weekly wage.
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD) Benefits: Awarded to workers who sustain catastrophic injuries or illnesses that permanently prevent them from returning to any form of gainful employment. PTD benefits provide ongoing wage replacement at a rate similar to TTD benefits.
- Vocational Rehabilitation: Assists injured workers in obtaining the necessary training, education, or job placement services to help them return to suitable employment after recovering from their injuries or illnesses.
- Death Benefits: Provides financial support to the surviving spouse, children, or other eligible dependents of a worker who dies because of a job-related injury or illness.
Common Workplace Injuries in Oklahoma
While workplace injuries can occur in any industry, some of the most common injuries for which workers in Oklahoma file compensation claims include:
- Back Injuries: Lifting heavy objects, repetitive motions, or accidents can lead to sprains, strains, herniated discs, or other back-related injuries, which are particularly common in physically demanding professions like construction, manufacturing, and healthcare.
- Repetitive Stress Injuries: Conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, and bursitis can develop from repeated movements or awkward postures, often affecting workers in office environments or those performing tasks involving constant motion or pressure on specific body parts (like on the assembly line in a factory).
- Occupational Diseases: Exposure to hazardous substances, such as asbestos, chemicals, or toxic fumes, can lead to respiratory illnesses, skin conditions, or other occupational diseases, particularly in industries like manufacturing, mining, and construction.
- Slips, Trips, and Falls: These accidents can occur in any workplace setting and can result in sprains, fractures, or traumatic brain injuries, among other injuries.
- Machinery and Equipment Accidents: Workers who operate heavy machinery or equipment face the risk of crush injuries, amputations, or other severe injuries due to malfunctions, entanglement, or improper use.
Long-term and Permanent Injuries
In cases where a workplace injury or illness results in long-term or permanent impairment, workers’ compensation benefits in Oklahoma are designed to provide ongoing support and assistance. This may include:
• PPD Benefits: As we mentioned before, PPD benefits provide compensation for permanent functional impairments due to injuries or illnesses, based on the degree of impairment and pre-injury wages.
• PTD Benefits: For workers with injuries or illnesses permanently preventing any form of gainful employment, PTD provides ongoing wage replacement similar to TTD benefits.
• Vocational Rehabilitation: Oklahoma’s workers’ compensation system offers vocational services to aid injured workers in training, education, or job placement for suitable employment after long-term or permanent injuries or illnesses.
• Ongoing Medical Care: Covers all necessary medical expenses related to the injury or illness, including long-term care, therapy, and required assistive and medical equipment.
Specific benefits and eligibility may vary. Consult with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney for help obtaining full entitled benefits under Oklahoma law.
Do You Need a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?
You do not have to hire a workers’ compensation lawyer when filing for benefits, but you do have the right to do so. Having an attorney’s help filing a workers’ compensation claim allows you to focus on your health, while your attorney can gather evidence, handle the paperwork, and make sure you are given the benefits you’re fully entitled to.
Workers’ comp attorneys can also help those who have had their workers’ compensation claim denied appeal the decision, often successfully, as well as help workers who want to explore legal options outside of workers’ comp, including possible third-party liability claims.
As experienced workers’ compensation lawyers in Oklahoma City, far too often we’ve seen workers get denied the benefits they deserve before coming to us, so we do everything we can to make their lives as easy as possible by handling their claims and appeals for them.
Did you know?
Close to 5,000 work-related deaths are reported each year.
If you’ve lost a loved one in a fatal accident while they were on the job, contact us about filing a wrongful death claim.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
Do You Need the Help of an Oklahoma City Workers’ Compensation Attorney?
If you were hurt at work or have lost a loved one in a job-related injury, contact an Oklahoma City workers’ compensation attorney at Parrish DeVaughn today for a free consultation.
We’ll work to get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries, so you can focus on your health. Whether your claim has been denied, or you’re exploring other possible avenues for compensation after a workplace injury, our team has the experience and the track record to help.
Get in touch with our Oklahoma City workers’ compensation lawyers at Parrish DeVaughn today for no cost.
