Workers’ Compensation Benefits For a Milford Workplace Injury

If injured on the job in Milford, you should report your injury and file for workers’ compensation benefits right away.
Workers’ compensation is the exclusive remedy for wage replacement benefits and medical treatment for workers injured on the job. Workers’ compensation provides a quick way to get the injured worker treatment and benefits and to safely return the injured worker to their job. As a result, other than in some rare circumstances, if you are injured on your job, you can’t sue an employer for workplace injuries like you would sue another driver for a motor vehicle collision. Instead of a drawn-out lawsuit, you must file an official workers’ compensation claim to receive your benefits. However, the workers’ compensation system provides a trade-off in exchange for requiring you to follow the system. You can obtain immediate medical care and treatment and gain valuable wage replacement benefits without filing a lawsuit.

No Fault Compensation

Connecticut’s workers’ compensation system works based on “no fault.” This means that even if you caused your injury, as long as you worked on the job, your injuries are covered by workers’ compensation insurance. You can receive valuable benefits to compensate you for your injuries.

By way of example, let’s say you worked as an electrician. You sustained injuries to your knee because you tripped over a wire while at work. In this case, you would be fully covered by workers’ compensation. You would be covered even if you knew about the wire and still tripped over it. You would be covered under workers’ compensation insurance even if you were the one that was supposed to fix the wire. It doesn’t matter who caused your accident. You are still eligible for compensation. That is one of the benefits of the way our workers’ compensation system works.

Milford Workers’ Compensation Benefits

What benefits can injured Milford workers receive? It depends on your injury, but generally, workers’ compensation seeks to provide you with fair compensation for your workplace injury. You will receive the medical treatment that you need. Your medical bills will be paid for you. In addition, you will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses, including your travel. You will be paid wage replacement benefits in the event that your injuries mean that you can’t return to your job. Additionally, you will be compensated for any permanent injuries or scars from your workplace injuries.

Chief among the many wage replacement benefits that might be available to an injured Milford worker are:

1. Full Pay for the Day You Were Injured – You are entitled to receive pay from your employer for the date of your injury. If you can’t return to work on the same day of your injury, your employer must pay you for a full day of work.
2. Temporary Partial Disability Benefits – Your injury might heal enough for you to go back to work, but you might not be able to perform all your prior job duties. Your doctor might say that you can’t perform your old job, but you can do “light duty work.” In this case, your employer should provide light duty work. If they do not have any available, you can get Temporary Partial Disability Benefits, or “TP” benefits. The TP benefits are paid the rate of 75% of your after-tax average weekly wages.
3. Temporary Total Disability Benefits – You might be unable to work because of your injuries. In this situation, you are entitled to Temporary Total Disability Benefits for all workdays missed because (at least temporarily), you cannot go back to work because of the severity of your injuries. These benefits, which are paid weekly, are paid while you cab;t return to work in any capacity. They equal 75% of your after-tax average weekly wages (typical weekly wages minus federal taxes, state taxes, and FICA deductions).

These are just some of the wage replacement benefits that you might be entitled to receive. Your specific compensation will depend on your injuries, and the time you are out of work.

Get Help With Your Case

There may be additional wage replacement benefits that an injured Milford worker could receive, depending upon the nature of the case. Do not rely on your employer to ensure you receive the benefits you are entitled to. If you have received a workplace injury in Milford, contact our workers’ compensation attorneys to discuss your eligibility for wage replacement benefits.