Injuries and illness can happen to anyone. If you find that you are injured on the job or fall ill and are unable to work either for a short or long period of time, you need to find out what your rights and liabilities are. If your injury occurred while you were performing your job duties, you can build a strong case to receive relief for your medical expenses and lost wages.
What is considered an injury at work that may be covered by a workers’ compensation claim? First, any injury that occurs directly at work, like falling off of scaffolding, or being burned by chemicals used in your job. Second, a repetitive injury could be covered by disability insurance benefits, such as hurting your hand or your back from repeating the same movement over and over, or hearing loss due to excessive loud noise.
If you are injured on the job, or because of your job, you must report your injury to your employer right away and seek medical attention to help your disability insurance claim. If you have a minor illness, and will be out for a day or two, you are subject to your employer’s sick policy. However, if you have a longer or chronic illness, you have more rights that can help protect you and your right to seek benefits.
For those with a chronic or long-term illness, consult with your human resources manager and find out what steps you need to take, in your state, to get the medical accommodations you need. The Family and Medical Leave Act, a federal law, allows workers up to 12 weeks off for medical issues, but without pay. The American Disabilities Act requires employers to make accommodations for workers with disabilities or long-term medical issues. An illness like Multiple Sclerosis, for example, might not be diagnosed right away and a long-term medical issue might become a disability eventually.
If you find that you are injured or have a long-term illness that could affect your employment status, consult with a disability insurance lawyer from our team at Dabdoub Law Firm. Our legal professionals can help you determine the strongest course of action for continuing to work while coping with your injury or illness.
Call us today to discuss what rights you may have.