Your legal rights after a workplace eye injury and why a claim should never be settled for just the specific loss period.
We have seen people suffer from both partial and total vision loss. It can be a terrible consequence of a workplace eye accident. Employees are covered under workers’ comp regardless of their fault. Benefits include medical treatment, vocational rehabilitation, and lost wages. Here is what everyone should know about a suffering an eye injury at work in Michigan and a workers’ comp claim. Please remember that every situation is unique, and it is best to speak to an experienced lawyer regarding your own potential case.
Does workers’ comp cover an eye injury at work in Michigan?
In Michigan, an employee who suffers an eye injury at work is covered under workers’ comp. This includes money for specific loss should partial or total vision loss occur. Other benefits include unlimited medical treatment, vocational rehabilitation, and a percentage of lost wages.
An employee who has suffered an eye injury at work in Michigan should file a workers’ comp claim to get specific loss benefits if they have partial or total vision loss. This is a minimum number of paid weeks regardless of whether they return to work. Employees who lose an eye should get 162 weeks of wage loss benefits guaranteed. Both eyes would result in 324 weeks of specific loss. Eighty percent loss of vision of 1 eye shall constitute the total loss of that eye.
Workers’ comp should also pay for medical treatment after an eye injury at work in Michigan. This is an unlimited benefit, and it goes for life. There should never be any copayments or deductibles owed by an employee under workers’ comp. Even items that are strictly for cosmetic purposes should be covered 100%.
Vocational rehabilitation should also be provided to help a person transition to a new career if needed. This might come in the form of money for education or retraining. Sometimes a person just needs help with their resume and finding a new job. Watch out for insurance companies who use vocational rehabilitation as a weapon and don’t have your best interests at heart.
Wage loss benefits should also be paid after the specific loss period ends if a person still cannot work. This money is paid on top of the 162 weeks per eye. Insurance companies frequently refuse to pay because they do not take vision loss seriously.
Watch out for low ball settlement offers for eye injuries.
Insurance companies make settlement offers based upon what is advantageous to them. Low ball insurance settlement offers based on just the 162 week specific loss period should not be accepted. Employees should also get money for medical treatment, vocational rehabilitation, and general disability if warranted.
Have questions about your Michigan workers’ comp claim after an eye injury at work? Call our attorneys now
If you suffered an eye injury at work in Michigan and have questions about or need help filing a workers’ comp claim, call now or fill out our contact form for a free consultation. There is absolutely no cost or obligation. Our attorneys are here for you.
Our attorneys have been exclusively helping injured workers in Michigan for more than 35 years. Our attorneys can help you better understand Michigan work injury laws and what happens after someone has been hurt on the job. To see what our own clients have to say about the caring, compassion, and communication they received from us, you can read in their own words about their experience here on our testimonials page from clients we have helped.
Michigan Workers Comp Lawyers never charges a fee to evaluate a potential case. Our law firm has represented injured and disabled workers exclusively for more than 35 years. Call (855) 221-2667 for a free consultation today.
Related information: