One of the greatest benefits that your employer may offer is workers’ compensation. For any number of reasons, you may have become injured on the job, whether it was a slip and fall, an object hitting you, or a repetitive motion injury. If you filled out the workers’ compensation forms and they were accepted, you may be getting a paycheck to help cover your medical costs as well as any time off work that you needed to take while you recovered from your injury. This is typically a best-case scenario.
What if you are planning to resign from your current job, though? Are you still able to get workers’ compensation benefits from your old job? What if you are only able to work part-time? A skilled workers’ compensation lawyer, like a workers’ compensation lawyer in Appleton, WI, could answer some of these questions for you.
What are the benefits of workers’ compensation?
This is a great question because many people do not understand there are certain basic benefits that you are likely entitled to. These are:
- Medical Treatment
- Wage Replacement
- Permanent Disability
Medical Treatment
When it comes to medical expenses after your injury, getting medical treatment covered is a huge benefit. It is possible for workers’ compensation to cover all of your medical bills including hospital stays, medication, physical therapy, subsequent doctor visits, and even gas mileage to and from the doctor.
Wage Replacement
If your doctor places you on light-limited duty, your employer will then begin paying you two-thirds of your weekly wage. This is something that they will calculate based on your weekly wage for a certain number of weeks prior to the accident.
Permanent Disability
Finally, when you can return to work, your doctor will give you a PPD (permanent disability rating). When they do this, it provides an end payment. This number will vary based on your potential future lost earnings or the state you live in.
What happens if you resign?
If you choose to resign from your employer before your workers’ compensation claim has gone through, it is still possible to receive medical benefits depending on what treatment your doctor believes you need. That said, when you resign, you are giving up your rights to wage replacement and potentially even partial disability benefits. If you have suffered from a permanent disability, though, it is still possible for you to receive a lump-sum judgment or continue getting payments in the future. There are many variables to consider and your workers’ compensation attorney can help go over the details of your specific case.
If your employer is being difficult and refuses to make any payments after you give them your resignation notice, you will want to have a workers’ compensation attorney on your side you can trust. Speak with an attorney today about resigning from your job while filing for or receiving workers’ compensation benefits.
Thanks to Hickey & Turim Attorneys at Law for their insight into how workers’ compensation can still be used, even if you leave your job.