When you are injured at work, there are laws that regulate how your injury and care are handled. If you or someone you love has been injured on the job, you are bound to have a multitude of questions. Let’s try to handle a few of the more commonly posed questions, so you will have a better understanding of your rights as an injured worker:
What is Workers’ Compensation?
In Michigan, Workers’ Compensation is the system we use to provide wage replacement, medical and rehabilitation benefits to men and women who are injured while at work.
Who is covered by the system?
Nearly all employers in the state of Michigan are covered by the Workers’ Compensation Program—including public and private employers. The Michigan Workers’ Disability Compensation Act states (in part), “An employee, who receives a personal injury arising out of and in the course of employment by an employer, who is subject to this act at the time of the injury, shall be paid compensation as provided in this act. A personal injury under this act is compensable if work causes, contributes to, or aggravates pathology in a manner so as to create a pathology that is medically distinguishable from any pathology that existed prior to the injury.” Now, this may seem pretty clear; however, there are employers who don’t carry the proper insurance, and insurance adjusters who will go to great lengths to avoid paying your claim when you are injured or disabled.
Should I hire an attorney?
When you are injured on the job, your focus is on getting healed and handling your expenses. You may think that you cannot afford a lawyer, or that you can handle the paperwork and deal with the insurance company on your own. Personal injury attorneys have an in-depth understanding of workers’ compensation laws, and can work within the system to get you every dollar you deserve. Hiring an experienced attorney gives you an ally who will help you provide the most effective defense against stall tactics and attempts by the insurance company to avoid paying you.
In Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, the attorneys of Atkinson Petruska Kozma Hart & Couture stand together to fight for the rights of the injured. When you need a skilled and caring counselor to guide you through a workers’ compensation or injury case, rely on our expertise and talent to bring about the best possible outcome when you need it most. Call us today at 1.877.732.2491 or fill out the free consultation form in the sidebar to schedule your personal consultation and get some financial peace of mind.