If you have sustained burn injuries as part of a work-related accident, you may want to contact your Mount Vernon personal injury lawyer at the earliest. You may be interested in knowing what the compensation involves and what injuries are likely to be covered.
The Mount Vernon worker’s compensation process can be challenging and complicated. You may also want to know more about the steps you should take after you’ve been subject to a burn injury at your workplace. This article focuses on all these questions.
What Does the Worker’s Compensation Law Cover?
Construction and extraction workers form 7.2%, and the protective service sector form 1.6% of the total workforce of Mount Vernon. These workers stand a higher risk of burn injury because of the nature of their work. If you have sustained a severe burn injury, you may not have to prove the employer’s negligence and may be eligible for compensation by default.
The coverage scope would include coverage for treatments, temporary or permanent disability benefits, and death benefits to the spouse or dependent if the burn injury was fatal. The insurance aims to provide financial coverage to employees who have suffered injuries, including burn injuries. The insurance is issued on a “no-fault basis.”
Workers’ compensation in Mount Vernon is monitored and discharged by the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board. The board determines your eligibility and the amount of compensation to be discharged. If you suffered a burn at your workplace, you might be entitled to both cash benefits and medical coverage.
What to Do if You Sustain a Burn Injury
Of the 140200 burn injuries reported in New York last year, around 82000 were severe. The first recommended thing to do would be to contact your Mount Vernon, personal injury lawyer. Your lawyer has the required skill and knowledge to manage the case and give you appropriate advice on how to handle the situation.
You may want to report your injury to your employer as soon as you can. While doing so, you may want to make a written report that contains details of the type of work you do, the magnitude of the burn injury, the time and location of the accident, etc. if the burn has left you temporarily or permanently disabled, you may want to mention this fact too.
File for Workers Compensation
Though the unemployment rate of Mount Vernon is 14% higher than the national average, a substantial part of the workforce is employed in physical occupations like transport, installation and repair services, fire fighting, etc. People employed in these occupations are more vulnerable to burn injuries than office workers. In Mount Vernon, injured employees must file for workers’ compensation claims within two years from the accident date.
The amount you receive as compensation will not be decreased or increased based on the employer’s negligence. To file for the claim, you will have to fill and submit the relevant form along with necessary documents like medical bills, x-rays, photographs, a written description of the injury, etc.
The medical costs are paid immediately. You will be eligible for additional cash benefits if the burn injury lasts for more than seven days. The compensation is calculated as a percentage of your wages. If your face, neck, or head has been disfigured because of the burn, you are eligible for compensation of up to $20000.
Why You Need the Help of an Attorney
An experienced ‘personal injury lawyer can enhance your chances of winning the claim. Your Mount Vernon attorney deals with similar cases and is well-versed in the different legal complications the situation presents. You will also need all the available help for preparing, drafting, and submitting the claim.
