Worker’s Compensation is a group of laws that protect people that are injured at work. The intent of these laws is to take care of the injured worker. If you’ve been injured on the job, then you should be aware of your Worker’s Compensation rights. Worker’s Compensation tries to make sure that you’ll receive the right medical care, any income that you may have lost and any help that you need getting back to work. This includes rehabilitation. If someone is killed while on the job, then the family of the deceased may be eligible for Worker’s Compensation benefits.

If you have been injured on the job, then it is a very good idea to seek professional support. You may need an attorney who specializes in Worker’s Compensation cases or in personal injury cases. Benefits may vary from state to state and an attorney will know which benefits that you may be eligible for. Lawyers are generally limited in what they can charge for a Worker’s Compensation case. Court proceedings are generally straight forward and relaxed. You should definitely seek professional representation if you are denied any benefits that you feel you are eligible for. Check with your state’s benefits to see what you may be able to get.

The first thing that can disqualify you from receiving benefits is intoxication on the job. If you were intoxicated when you were injured, then you may have no rights to Worker’s Compensation benefits. If you were willfully acting out or misbehaving, then you also may not be eligible for any Worker’s Compensation benefits. Be careful because many employers may use unfair tactics to keep from having to give you full benefits. They may have doctors on their side that will give an incorrect diagnosis to keep the employer from having to pay. You could come back to work after an injury and discover that you’ve been laid off or your job no longer exists. Employers have been known to do this to cut off your benefits instead of paying out the full cost of the Worker’s Compensation.

There are certain professions that have special Worker’s Compensation provisions due to the nature of their jobs. The Jones Act is a special law that protects maritime workers at sea. They can receive Worker’s Compensation benefits if there is even a slight oversight by their employer or co-workers that results in an injury on the job. Due to the extreme danger of working on a sea vessel, the utmost of care must be taken to avoid injuries. The ship itself must also be seaworthy or employees may be injured and receive medical care and other compensation for injuries caused by the boat.

Railroad workers are also covered for injuries resulting from negligence in keeping up the functionality of the railroad. The Federal Employment Liability Act covers railroad employees, making the employers liable for neglectful practices that can endanger their employees. The Black Lung Benefits Act covers miners who become infected with pneumoconiosis, commonly referred to as Black Lung, after mining.

Whether you fall under a special provision or not, you should always seek legal direction and representation before settling on benefits with your employer. If you are in the state of Utah, call the Salt Lake City Court Reporters at Thacker + Co for more information.