Workers Comp Or Personal Injury? Depends On Who Did It

Being injured on the job can be a scary experience. Injury can be accompanied by confusion about how the injury occurred, who may be at fault and how your career may be affected. As you recover, it's important to have some guidance on what to do next as the pressure to make statements and signatures escalate. If you don't have legal representation, don't sign a single thing until you've thought about your options and consulted a legal professional. As you search through your options, take the time to think about the situation and whether it's a workers compensation issue, a personal injury issue or even a mixture of both.

What Does Workers Compensation Do?

Workers compensation (often called workers comp, or the outdated term workman's comp) is designed to help people who were injured on the job. If the injury wasn't your fault (or on a case-by-case basis if it was your fault), you can rely on medical treatment to be covered by the compensation program as well as a percentage of your paycheck as you recover.

The compensation system varies by state but has a few provisions for if you're permanently affected by injury. If neither you nor your company can be held completely liable, workers compensation can move you to compensation systems such as Social Security Disability at an easier rate of success than those who apply for Social Security independently. 

If your company or an individual is at fault, state law decides how much you can be compensated. In South Carolina, for example, compensation is limited to 500 weeks of total compensation. If you feel that your injury may be permanently disabling and may affect your ability to work and enjoy life beyond your current employment, it's best to consult a legal professional for a personal injury claim.

Personal Injury Claims Are Necessary When Damage Is Unknown

Workers compensation has limits on total compensation, while Social Security will limit your possible income to rates that may be too low for your standard of living. You shouldn't have to limit yourself if your injury wasn't your fault.

A personal injury lawyer can open opportunities for greater compensation. By taking legal action against your employer or even an individual who could have caused the accident, you could demand a more fair amount of compensation that could keep your future secure.

Save time and money by allowing the personal injury lawyer to examine your injury, the events surrounding the incident and the persons involved. Contact a personal injury law firm to begin planning your compensation path through workers comp, social security or other legal actions.

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