A work-related injury worries you. Not only do you wonder where you will get the money to support your family, but you also worry about your recovery time. How long will I be out of work? On top of that, you worry about job security. You had heard stories from colleagues about people who had filed for workers’ compensation, and many of these stories make you nervous.
You wonder whether you should even bother filing for workers’ compensation benefits. However, as long as you qualify for these benefits, you should seek them for you and your family. Some of those hearsay stories from colleagues are just that and filled with misconceptions. It is time to dispel some of those misconceptions.
An employer cannot fire you
Workers’ compensation benefits are geared toward helping people who have been injured on the job and are unable to work. Here are some of the misconceptions that continue to surface:
- Your injury must have occurred at the worksite. This is not accurate. You can seek benefits when injured during a work-related activity such as visiting off-site clients. Truck drivers and delivery workers who are injured in motor vehicle crashes may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Workers injured on business trips also may qualify, too.
- You must be performing your job when your injury took place. An injury from a slip-and-fall at your workplace site could qualify you. Perhaps, you were on your way to an office meeting or en route to the bathroom when you were injured due to the actions of a co-worker.
- Your employer may fire you. It is illegal for an employer to fire a person who files for workers’ compensation. Such an action is retaliation.
A little bit of research goes a long way when learning about workers’ compensation benefits. But, sometimes, you have questions for which you are unable to find answers on your own. This is when it is crucial to seek the insight of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney.