How is Workers’ Comp Calculated?
People who work around heavy equipment, such as construction equipment, are prone to severe injuries while they are on the job. All these injuries may require a significant amount of medical treatment, including hospital stays, doctor visits, physical therapy, and medical procedures, in order to correct them. Accident victims who are injured at work might also lose considerable wages from having to take time off after their accident. When that occurs, bills and other expenses can mount up quickly.
Individuals who suffer one or more of these injuries or illnesses while they are on the job, and while they are within the scope of their employment, might be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits in the State of California.
A knowledgeable Garden Grove workers’ compensation attorney near you could assist with determining your eligibility for various benefits. If you are eligible, he or she will be able to calculate the amount of benefits to which you may be entitled.
Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Which You May be Eligible
Depending upon your circumstances, there are several types of workers’ compensation benefits you might be entitled to recover. First, you may be eligible to recover a portion of the wages that you missed because of not being able to work after your injury. You may also be able to recover benefits for your related medical treatment expenses. In addition, if a healthcare provider determines that you suffered a permanent injury in your work-related accident, you might be eligible to recover one or more types of permanency benefits.
In terms of lost wages in a California workers’ compensation claim, injured workers are eligible to recover two-thirds of their gross wages before taxes. Back in 2018, the most that was allowed per week was $1,215.27 for a total disability. However, every year, the maximum amount increases. The minimum weekly eligible amount for 2018 was $182.29. For a worker to determine the regular weekly wage for which he or she is eligible, the worker must take their gross annual salary and divide it by 52. If a worker makes $52,000 per year, for example, the gross weekly wage would be $1,000.00 per week. Therefore, the maximum benefit would be 2/3 of that amount.
In some cases, accident victims suffer from a permanent disability, as determined by a qualified healthcare provider. In that case, the worker might be eligible to recover Supplemental Job Displacement Benefits, otherwise known as SJDB. These benefits are a voucher that could provide a maximum of $6,000 in compensation for vocational training.
If you have suffered a work injury while you were on the job, a knowledgeable Garden Grove workers’ compensation attorney will be able to determine your eligibility for benefits and can help you anticipate the types and amounts of benefits you should expect to recover.