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 workers’ comp eye injury. 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?
Employees who suffer an eye injury at work are 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 a workers’ comp eye injury should 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.
Medical treatment should also be paid for a workers’ comp eye injury. 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 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.
If you have a workers’ comp eye injury, fill out our contact form for a free consultation. There is absolutely no cost or obligation. We can make sure your legal rights are protected and you get the best recovery possible.
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 (844) 316-8033 for a free consultation today.
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