Massachusetts Workers' Compensation Lawyer Blog
Massachusetts provides comprehensive workers’ compensation benefits to protect employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses. Understanding these benefits and how they apply to your situation can significantly affect your recovery and financial stability. Workers’ compensation in Massachusetts covers medical expenses, lost wages, and other specific losses tied to workplace injuries. Knowing your rights and working with an attorney can ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Workplace injuries can leave employees facing physical and emotional challenges and financial strain. Massachusetts law requires employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance, which provides employees with essential benefits without needing to prove employer fault. Whether you are temporarily unable to work, coping with a permanent disability, or managing long-term medical needs, these benefits are designed to safeguard your livelihood.
Temporary Total Incapacity Benefits
If your work-related injury or illness keeps you from working for six or more full or partial calendar days, you may qualify for Temporary Total Incapacity Benefits. These benefits compensate you at 60% of your average weekly wage, calculated over the 52 weeks before the injury. The Massachusetts State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) determines the maximum weekly benefit at the time of the injury. You may receive these payments for up to 156 weeks, depending on the duration of your disability.
For instance, consider a Massachusetts construction worker who sustains a severe back injury while lifting heavy materials. If the injury keeps them from returning to work for several months, Temporary Total Incapacity Benefits provide financial stability during recovery. These benefits help cover living expenses, allowing the injured worker to focus on regaining health without the added stress of lost income.
Temporary Partial Incapacity Benefits
Not all injuries result in complete incapacity. If you are able to return to work but cannot perform your regular job duties or must accept reduced hours, you may qualify for Temporary Partial Incapacity Benefits. These benefits compensate for the difference between your pre-injury earnings and your decreased earning capacity, up to 75% of the temporary incapacity rate.
For example, a retail employee who injures their wrist may be reassigned to a lower-paying role with fewer physical demands. Temporary Partial Incapacity Benefits help bridge the income gap until the worker can fully resume their prior duties. These benefits provide critical support during transitional periods, helping injured employees maintain financial security while adjusting to their limitations.
Permanent and Total Incapacity Benefits
Permanent and Total Incapacity Benefits offer long-term financial support when an injury leaves you permanently unable to work. These benefits provide two-thirds of your average weekly wage and include annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) to account for inflation.
Consider a factory worker who suffers from a catastrophic injury, such as losing the ability to walk due to a workplace accident. Permanent and Total Incapacity Benefits ensure ongoing financial support as long as the disability persists. These benefits are crucial for workers and their families as they adapt to life-altering circumstances.
Medical Benefits
Massachusetts workers’ compensation also covers all necessary and reasonable medical expenses related to your injury or illness. This includes doctor visits, hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, and prescription medications. You can even receive reimbursement for travel costs to medical appointments.
Initially, your employer may require you to see a provider within their preferred network for the first visit. After that, you have the right to choose your own healthcare provider. Reporting your injury to your employer and insurance company immediately ensures that your medical expenses are covered without interruption.
Permanent Loss of Function and Disfigurement Benefits
Workplace accidents sometimes result in permanent impairments, such as the loss of a limb, hearing, or vision. Massachusetts law provides additional compensation for these types of injuries. Scarring or disfigurement on visible areas like the face, neck, or hands may also qualify for compensation.
For example, a restaurant worker who suffers burns to their hands while cooking might receive additional benefits for the permanent scars left by the accident. These benefits aim to address permanent injuries’ physical and psychological effects. Consulting with an attorney ensures that you receive fair compensation for the full extent of your injuries.
Survivors’ and Dependents’ Benefits
In tragic cases where a work-related injury or illness leads to death, Massachusetts workers’ compensation provides financial support to the deceased worker’s surviving family members. These benefits include weekly payments to a surviving spouse and eligible dependents, such as children under 18, full-time students, or those with disabilities preventing them from working.
For instance, the family of a transportation worker who dies in a vehicle accident while on the job may rely on these benefits to cover household expenses and maintain financial stability. Survivors’ and Dependents’ Benefits ensure families have the resources needed to rebuild their lives after losing a loved one.
Why You Need an Attorney for Workers’ Compensation Claims
Massachusetts workers’ compensation claims can present challenges, particularly when disputes arise regarding the extent of your injury or the benefits you qualify to receive. Having an attorney by your side ensures that you understand your rights and have someone to advocate for you during the claims process.
Employers or their insurance companies may question the validity of your injury, delay payments, or understate the benefits owed. An attorney helps gather critical evidence, prepares the necessary paperwork, and represents your interests in hearings or appeals. Legal guidance ensures that your claim is managed efficiently and you secure the benefits you deserve.
Attorneys can also assist in negotiating settlements tailored to your circumstances, ensuring you receive adequate financial support for medical treatment and wage losses.
Get Started on Pursuing the Benefits You Deserve
If you were recently injured in an on-the-job accident, the experienced Boston workers’ compensation attorneys at Altman & Altman, LLP, are here to help you understand your rights and obtain the benefits you deserve. At Altman & Altman, our dedicated Boston workplace lawyers have decades of combined experience securing maximum benefits on behalf of injured Massachusetts workers. Call us today at 800.481.6199 or contact us through our secure online form to schedule your free consultation. Let us help you secure the compensation you deserve.
