When you experience an injury or develop an illness as a result of your work environment, you may be able to secure workers’ compensation benefits through your employer to help you get by while you cannot work. You may be able to obtain workers’ compensation benefits for any number of different reasons. While, in some cases, you may pursue them after specific, one-time injuries, in others, you may need them because of injuries or illnesses that develop over time.
Just what types of benefits might you be able to secure in the wake of an on-the-job accident or after developing an illness caused by work-related circumstances?
Payments for medical expenses
Your employer may have to pay for expenses relating to your treatment and recovery after an on-the-job injury or illness. Be sure to carefully document all medical expenses and appointments if you need to produce documentation later on.
Payments for temporary or permanent disability
If your injury or illness is severe enough to keep you out of the workplace for a period, you may be able to obtain temporary disability benefits to help you make ends meet until you can return to work. If your injury or illness is so severe that you will never be able to return to work because of it, you may be able to obtain permanent disability benefits.
Death benefits
If your work-related injury or illness ends up claiming your life, your family members may be able to obtain death benefits. These benefits help surviving family members get by once you can no longer help provide for them.
While these are some of the main benefits you may be able to get under California’s workers’ compensation program, please note that this is not a comprehensive list of all benefits that may be available to you.