If you or a member of your family is injured on the job, it can be detrimental to your health and livelihood. Injured laborers sometimes encounter obstacles when they try to obtain the workers' comp benefits they are entitled to. What does workers' comp in Connecticut actually cover? That's a question that many injured workers ask.

Workers' compensation is reciprocal. If you are injured at work, your employer will cover your medical expenses and lost wages through insurance. In exchange for these benefits, you cannot file a lawsuit against your employer for injuries nor are you compensated for non-economic damages. You must instead file a claim to receive medical, wage replacement, and other benefits.

What exactly is covered is what we will go over in the following article.

If you have a workers' comp case and need legal assistance, our CT workers' comp lawyers have successfully represented men and women injured on the job and can do the same for you.

What Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Covers

As with most states across the nation, a worker who suffers an injury while carrying out tasks related to their duties is entitled to workers' compensation benefits. However, you may not know what that coverage is exactly. Workers' compensation coverage in the state of Connecticut will cover the following:

• Lost wages for the time an employee is unable to work due to an injury or illness sustained on the job.
• Medical costs for work-related illnesses caused by exposure to allergens or hazardous substances.
• Funeral expenses if your employee dies as a result of a work-related injury or illness.
•  Costs for ongoing care, such as physical therapy.
• Disability benefits if an employee becomes temporarily or permanently disabled due to an injury or illness sustained on the job. Up to 52 weeks of temporary disability benefits are available to Connecticut employees.
• Medical costs related to an accident or injury suffered on the job.
• Medical costs for repetitive stress injuries that develop over time, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
• If your employee uses their own vehicle to get to medical appointments, you should be reimbursed for your mileage.

Other CT Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Occasionally, work-related injuries or illnesses can be very serious, resulting in:

• Total temporary disability
• Temporary partial disability
• Permanent partial disability
• Disfigurement or scarring

In these cases, an injured Connecticut worker can receive additional benefits such as:

• 308a benefits, which can provide up to 75% of the employee's wages, pre-injury or pre-illness.
• Retraining to help a worker return to work under a different role.
•  Relapse or recurrence benefits are provided if a recovering employee relapses.

The CT Workers' Comp Claim Process

The following steps are generally how the process of filing a workers' comp claim works in Connecticut.

1. Immediately contact your supervisor or employer: As soon as possible after a workplace accident or the discovery of an injury, report it to your supervisor.
   
   If you do not notify your supervisor immediately, your benefits may be reduced or denied. If you sustain an injury that does not necessitate medical attention or result in time missed from work, you must still inform your supervisor.
   
2. Seek treatment from the healthcare provider designated by your employer if you require medical care.
   
   If your employer does not mandate that you see a specific practice group or provider, you are free to select your own physician. Keep all invoices and reports, adhere to the physician's instructions, and attend all follow-up appointments.
   
3. File a Written Notice of Claim Promptly: In Connecticut, you must file Form 30C, which notifies the Workers' Compensation Commission that you are requesting benefits. Although you informed your employer of your injury, you must also file Form 30C, Written Notice.
   
4. Retain a workers' comp lawyer when necessary: a significant number of Connecticut workers' compensation claims are denied. If you are injured on the job and denied benefits, it can be difficult to pay your expenses without income.
   
   If this occurs, contact a law firm with experience in workers' compensation claims. Attorneys should not charge you a retainer fee up front. Instead, they are paid if your claim is successful. If you are denied benefits, you are not required to pay attorney fees.

Contact Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law For Help With Your CT Workers' Comp Claim

Being injured at work is stressful. Take the necessary steps to ensure you receive the eligible benefits as soon as possible. If denied, consult an experienced workers' compensation lawyer, such as Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law. We have successfully served injured Connecticut workers for decades.

Contact us today to schedule a free, no-risk consultation with one of our qualified workers' comp lawyers.