Workers’ compensation benefits can help injured workers through a challenging time following a workplace injury. It is important for injured workers and their families to know exactly what types of benefits they may be able to receive through workers’ compensation.
Types of workers’ compensation benefits
There are several types of workers’ compensation benefits available to injured Oklahoma workers including:
- Medical treatment – employers are required to provide injured workers with medical treatment within 5 days of notifying their employer that they were injured at work. When an employer fails to provide medical treatment and care during the specified period of time, the injured worker may be able to seek medical treatment at the employer’s expense.
- Lost wages – injured workers may also be able to receive lost wages for their time away from work because of their injury through workers’ compensation benefits.
- Vocational rehabilitation- vocational rehabilitation benefits may also be available to injured workers who are unable to return to the work they did prior to suffering their workplace injury because of the impact the injury had to them.
- Death benefits – following a fatal workplace accident, surviving family members may be able to receive death benefits through workers’ compensation protections.
What you need to keep in mind
It is important to note that employers with greater than 5 employees are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance in Oklahoma for the protection of their employees. Some categories of workers are excluded so workers should understand when they are protected and what protections are available to them.
In addition, workers’ compensation benefits may apply because of a workplace injury or occupational illness. Lastly, injured workers should be familiar with timelines associated with a workers’ compensation claim for benefits and what to do if their claim is denied so they can get the benefits they need.