Nebraska Workers Comp Benefits: What to Expect

Workers’ compensation insurance covers you for losses caused by a workplace injury or illness. Each state has its own workers comp laws. Most employers in Nebraska must carry workers comp insurance for their employees. If you have suffered injuries at work, you can contact a workers comp lawyer to help you with your claim.

Before you seek workers comp benefits, you should know who can apply for these benefits and what benefits are available. Here is important information related to these questions.

Who Qualifies for Workers Comp Insurance?

You can apply for workers comp benefits if you suffered a workplace injury or illness. The injury or illness must meet the following criterion:

• It occurred during your duties at work.
• It didn’t occur while you were away, on break, or driving to or from work.
• It didn’t occur while you were drunk unless the drinks were served as a part of an official event.

Even when you meet these requirements, your employer or the insurance company may refuse your claim. Many other factors also need to be considered when filing a claim. An experienced attorney can offer education on how best to secure your rights in the event of a workplace injury.

Benefits Available Under Workers Comp

A wide range of benefits are available under workers compensation insurance:

• Medical Expenses – The employer must cover you for all reasonable medical expenses in the event of a qualified workplace injury. These include doctor’s fees, hospital bills, prescriptions, rehab and therapy, specialized equipment costs, and more.
• Lost Wages – You are entitled to recoup the wages you may lose after suffering the injury. The injury can force you to take time away. The actual amount of damages you recover under “Lost Wages” depends on the severity of your injuries.
• Permanent Partial Loss of Member Benefits – You can seek these benefits if you lose a body part during a workplace accident or the injury is severe enough to prevent you from using that body part anymore. The compensation amount is calculated by multiplying 2/3 of your salary with a set number. This number depends on the body part that is affected.
• Permanent Partial Loss to Body – These benefits are available when you suffer a permanent loss or impairment to your body as a whole. A percentage is assigned to the disability in consideration of its impact on the body. This percentage is then multiplied by 2/3 of your salary to calculate benefits.
• Temporary Partial Benefits – If you can no longer work at the pre-injury levels, you can seek temporary partial benefits. This applies if there is a difference between your previous and current wages.
• Death Benefits – If an employee dies due to a workplace injury or illness, the children and spouse are entitled to death benefits. These include funeral expenses of up to $6,000 and a percentage of the deceased victim’s salary.

A Work Comp Attorney Can Help

If you or a loved one you know have suffered workplace injuries, we can help you. Here at Conway, Pauley & Johnson P.C., we help you seek workers comp benefits and make good your losses. We aim to help you receive the maximum amount of these benefits.

Call us today at 402-462-5187 to discuss your claim with our lawyers.