Mena, AR Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

Though you may be entitled to Workers’ Compensation as an employee in Mena, convincing your employer’s carrier to approve your claim can be challenging, and our lawyers can help injured workers prepare the necessary information to get the appropriate benefits.

Workers’ Compensation carriers assess claims by reviewing evidence that the employee was injured at work and that their injuries currently prevent them from working. Claimants do not have to show negligence in Workers’ Compensation claims and are entitled to benefits because of their employment status. Workers’ Compensation may cover some of your missed wages during your physical recovery as well as all medical expenses you incur. Various occupational injuries make employees eligible for Workers’ Compensation, including temporary injuries, like sprains and fractures, and permanent ones, like certain spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries.

For a free and confidential case assessment from our Workers’ Compensation lawyers, call (479) 316-0438.

How Insurance Companies Assess Workers’ Compensation Claims in Mena, AR

One of the most important factors in determining Workers’ Compensation eligibility is whether or not you were hurt at work or while performing occupational duties. While you do not need to establish negligence for Workers’ Compensation approval, if the insurance company believes you intentionally caused your injuries, it might deny your claim.

Most employers in Arkansas must purchase Workers’ Compensation to comply with legal requirements. As an employee, you should be covered on day one of your employment, and our Workers’ Compensation lawyers can confirm your employer’s insurance compliance immediately after an accident. Workers’ Compensation carriers do not weigh an employer’s negligence, meaning your employer does not necessarily have to do anything wrong for you to get benefits. For example, if you tripped over a piece of equipment left out by another employee and were injured, you could get Workers’ Compensation. Or, if a fire broke out because of a defective piece of machinery and you sustained serious burn injuries, you could also get Workers’ Compensation.

Your injuries or condition must be disabling enough to prevent you from working, at least temporarily, resulting in lost wages. Workers’ Compensation carriers assess an applicant’s eligibility based on the clinical medical evidence they can provide, such as diagnostic test results, medical records, and statements from treating physicians.

Anticipating Your Lost-Wage Benefits from Workers’ Compensation in Mena, AR

While you recover from occupational injuries, you will rely on Workers’ Compensation lost-wage benefits to support yourself and your family, so estimating your likely benefit amount is important early in your case.

If you sustain workplace injuries that lower your earning capacity, you could receive 66 2/3% of the difference between your previous average weekly wage and your current earning capacity, according to Ark. Code. § 11-9-520.

In cases of total disability, Workers’ Compensation recipients can get 66 2/3% of their average weekly wage for as long as their disability persists, which could be the rest of their lives if they sustained permanent injuries.

For certain injuries specifically cited under § 11-9-521, like limb loss, employees may receive additional payments from Workers’ Compensation carriers, and our lawyers can compare your injuries to this list to ensure your maximum recovery.

Calculating lost wage benefits is complicated, though these are not the only recoverable damages in Workers’ Compensation claims. In addition to receiving a portion of your missed income, you can also get full compensation for all reasonable medical expenses associated with your occupational injury.

In the event of an employee’s death in Arkansas, Workers’ Compensation would pay up to $6,000 for funeral expenses and death benefits to the surviving spouse and children, according to § 11-9-527.

Occupational Injuries Employees Often Seek Workers’ Compensation for in Mena, AR

Many injuries qualify employees for Workers’ Compensation, from repetitive motion injuries and sprains to permanent head, neck, or back injuries. What matters most is that you were injured at work, you did not intentionally cause your injuries, and that you cannot return to your job for the foreseeable future because of the incident.

Repetitive Motion and Overexertion Injuries

Repeatedly using the same muscles day in and day out to perform workplace responsibilities could lead to repetitive motion injuries. These types of injuries are common among those who do detailed work, like electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and painters. Repetitive motion injuries might worsen over time, and if you stop being able to do your job because of them, inform your employer and see a doctor so we can initiate your Workers’ Compensation claim. Employees might sustain overexertion injuries, like hernias, from intensive manual labor or lifting heavy objects. Other overexertion injuries that might qualify you for benefits include torn ligaments, muscles, and tendons.

Fractures and Sprains

Fractures and sprains are some of the most common reasons for Workers’ Compensation claims and are often sustained during trips, slips, and falls at the workplace. These are some of the most frequent occupational accidents, especially in office environments. After tripping over a hazard, whether it is a computer cord in your peer’s cubicle or a piece of machinery on a work site, you might sustain fractures in your wrists and hands when bracing yourself for impact with the ground. Ankle sprains are other common workplace injuries that could prevent an employee from working, especially if their job requires them to always be on their feet.

Head, Neck, and Back Injuries

Falls from great heights, motor vehicle accidents, incidents on construction sites, or other serious events could cause head, neck, and back injuries. These are some of the most severe injuries to victims, often requiring extensive treatment from specialists, including multiple surgeries, prescription pain medication, and physical therapy. Spinal cord injuries may be permanent, preventing employees from earning meaningful income and entitling them to permanent total disability benefits, as well as compensation for their various medical expenses, including upcoming costs.

Call Our Lawyers in Mena, AR for Help with Your Workers’ Comp Case

Call our Workers’ Compensation lawyers for help with your case at (479) 316-0438.