Accidents on construction sites can cause severe injuries that make it hard for workers to generate a salary and take care of their families. Falls, slips, and trips are still the most common cause of construction-related fatalities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, they are responsible for about 38–39% of industry-related deaths.
According to construction accident lawyer Christian R. Ayers, construction sites often prove to be inherently dangerous places to work. Construction workers face a higher risk of injury and death at work than any other career in the workforce.
The purpose of workers’ compensation benefits is fairly straightforward. It provides economic assistance to employees that have been injured by a work-related incident. Still, most workers do not really understand how the exact amount is calculated. The factors taken into account include the severity of the injury, temporary or permanent disability status, and the laws peculiar to each state.
Let’s discuss these factors and how they influence workers’ compensation pay calculations.
What You Should Know About Workers’ Compensation
Workers need to understand specific system operations to recover from job-related injuries, which require workers’ compensation benefits. The system was established to provide support for individuals who lost their ability to work through work-related disabilities. The benefits include health insurance coverage, recovery assistance, and compensation for lost work time.
Any instance of documented injuries represents a serious situation. Delaying reporting your situation to the relevant authorities can compromise your entitlement to workers’ compensation. Claiming compensation requires you to keep complete documentation of your injury and medical treatment. Every state has a different set of regulations. For example, how much does workers’ comp pay in CT? In Connecticut, workers’ compensation pay is about 75% of your after-tax average weekly wage, up to a state-set maximum weekly benefit.
In other states, the percentage and rules vary. The state laws, the claimant’s wage record, and the injury’s severity determine the weekly benefits and duration. You need to learn the laws that apply to your specific state so that you may have a chance of optimizing the compensation you are entitled to receive.
A workers’ compensation lawyer should be contacted to help you with any difficulties you face. Your ability to understand your rights together with your required duties will help you handle this challenging process.
How Is Your Average Weekly Wage Calculated?
Knowledge of how the average weekly wage (AWW) is calculated is important. AWW is based on your earnings related to an average construction accident. AWW is obtained by dividing your pay by a certain period of time, usually 13 weeks before the occurrence of the accident.
To compute it, you would sum total income over some time, such as overtime, bonuses, or any other benefit paid as compensation. This amount would be divided by the number of weeks you worked. When employed for fewer than 13 weeks straight, the AWW may be meaningless and more in line with the actual wages. Accurate records are necessary to assure appropriate compensation. Keep a detailed record that shows your earnings and time rendered at work.
How Injury Severity Affects Compensation
The actual nature of your injuries will play an important part in the compensation awarded to you after any construction accident. The more severe the injury, the higher the payout.
Where the injury is temporary but likely to fully clear up and get you back to work quickly, the benefits may be limited. You are far more likely to get a bigger reward if you sustain permanent injuries or long-term disabilities.
In cases where there are hospital bills, rehabilitation expenses, loss of earnings, and emotional damage that affects a person’s quality of life, multiple elements will determine the compensation amount that an injured person will receive. Your personal understanding of your injuries will help you to seek the appropriate compensation that you deserve.
What State Laws Should You Know About Workers’ Compensation?
The system of workers’ compensation consists of numerous laws that address workplace injury incidents. The different state regulations result in distinct requirements about who can work and what benefits should be provided.
Some states require a particular time before one can be eligible for any payments, while others have different rates of compensation depending on the average weekly wage of the worker.
You need to understand your appeal rights together with your rights to report an injury incident. You can enhance your chances of receiving construction accident benefits by following the specific state regulations. Visit local law firms to allow them to assess your situation and determine which legal steps to take.
Steps for Workers’ Compensation After a Construction Accident
After an injury has occurred on a construction site, the worker must well understand the process for accessing workers’ compensation benefits. The injured worker is to undergo as much medical attention as possible and report the incident to the supervisor.
An investigation shall reveal in detail what happened. Evidence must be supported by witness accounts and photographs of the incident. The required workers’ comp claim form needs to be filled out completely before it can be submitted to either the employer or the claims agent or the insurance company.
Create additional copies of the documents for your records. The monitoring of your claim progress should begin after you finish these steps. These documents and evidence will help you advance your case and secure your benefits.
Understanding the process for collecting workers’ compensation benefits will help you cover the damages you have sustained following the accident.
