Employers provide workers’ compensation coverage to employees who suffer an injury while at work. A settlement can include medical bills, lost earnings, pain, and suffering, emotional distress, or inconvenience. Here are some ways how workers’ compensation insurance affects a settlement.
1. Workers’ Comp Does Not Cover Pre-existing Conditions
A pre-existing condition is an ailment or injury you suffered before an accidental injury occurred. Workers’ compensation insurance generally does not cover pre-existing conditions. This can be a blow to individuals who want their employer to pay for a pre-existing condition that they believe is worse than before their accident.
2. Long-Term Disability Must be Diagnosed Before the Injury
If you are on a long-term healthcare plan or receive disability, you will have to be diagnosed as disabled several months before being injured to cover your injury. If the doctor doesn’t diagnose you with a disability, your claim will be denied. If the doctor does diagnose you after you are already injured but before your claim is settled, then it stands denied.
3. Workers Comp Does Not Pay for Social Security Benefits
One of the advantages of being on social security is that you receive a monthly figure to use as your income. You must also use this amount instead of your gross pay because this money can be deducted from the settlement if not used for qualifying medical expenses.
4. Workers’ Comp Can Be Denied Based on Liability for the Injury
If you feel your employer is at fault for your injury, you may wish to pursue an injury case in court. Should the judge find it in your favor, then you will be able to receive a higher settlement from the workers’ compensation insurance than if the judge didn’t find it in your favor.
If you were sued for the injury by a third party, your workers’ compensation claim would still be paid out from the settlement. A Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney usually handles these cases very quickly to avoid delays in your settlement.
5. Your Workers’ Comp Claim Can’t Be Denied Based on Discrimination
If there is an issue of discrimination in the office, or if you are asked not to follow certain instructions, you have every right to report such abuse and seek help from an attorney. If you are fired for being a whistleblower, this is considered disability discrimination and can be used to claim workers’ compensation through a lawsuit.
However, not all injured employees will receive workers’ compensation insurance benefits. Some companies will take advantage of this system and offer a lower amount than what they legally must pay. This money will then be deducted from your settlement.
6. Workers’ Comp Benefits are Reduced in Case of Fraud
If you have filed for workers’ compensation insurance or disability insurance for previous injuries and were denied, your claim can be reduced or denied based on fraud. In these cases, the employer will try to prove that these previous claims caused the injuries described in your present lawsuit. Your worker’s comp claim is not paid out if they can prove this. You will also not be able to receive unemployment or social security payments.
7. Workers’ Comp Benefits Are Based on the Value of the Claim
You will get a higher payout rate if you have a very severe injury or a terminal illness. On the other hand, if you are diagnosed with only mild pain that is not debilitating, your claim will be lower. The workers’ compensation insurance company will use these terms to determine how much money to offer for your settlement.
8. Workers’ Comp Cannot Be Paid to You if You Are Getting a Lawsuit
If you plan on pursuing a workers’ compensation settlement, you must make sure that your lawsuit is settled first. Otherwise, the money is not paid out, and you will lose your chance of getting a settlement.
9. Workers’ Compensation Benefits Are Not Taxable
One of the benefits of worker’s comp insurance is that you are not required to pay taxes on the benefits given to you. Your medical treatment will be paid for without deducting from current or past workers’ compensation claims. However, some people are taking advantage of this system and have found ways to access these funds by making fraudulent claims.
Workers’ compensation insurance is a great benefit to all employees. It will cover your medical bills and provide a settlement for any injuries sustained on the job. You will also not have to pay taxes on this amount, which won’t affect your social security or unemployment benefits. However, if you have a workers’ compensation claim denied, then attorneys can help you explore all other options.