In the aftermath of a workplace injury, it’s natural for injured workers and their families to worry about how they’ll make ends meet. Various unpaid bills can quickly pile up when the injured worker is not earning a paycheck and their family is focusing all their resources on the recovery of their breadwinner.
Thankfully, most workers in North Carolina are covered by the state’s workers’ compensation system, which requires employers with over three workers to carry insurance coverage in case of work-related injuries. The no-fault system is designed to compensate injured workers for their unique needs.
Medical benefits
Work-related injuries often inspire a myriad of medical expenses. The medical benefits component of workers’ compensation serves as a vital lifeline. Injured employees are entitled to compensation for medical treatments, surgeries, medications and other necessary healthcare services. This helps ensure that they can focus on recovery without the burden of hefty medical bills.
Indemnity benefits
Indemnity benefits, often called “lost wages” or “disability” benefits, provide financial support to employees who are temporarily or permanently unable to report for duty due to a job-related injury. This compensation helps ensure that individuals and their families can sustain a reasonable standard of living during the recovery period. Workers’ compensation recognizes different types of disabilities, including temporary partial, temporary total, permanent partial and permanent total disabilities.
Vocational rehabilitation benefits
Resuming work after a serious injury can be daunting. Vocational rehabilitation benefits aim to assist injured workers in regaining employment by providing necessary training, education or job placement services. This benefit strives to enhance the injured worker’s skill set and employability in a changed work landscape.
Workers’ compensation benefits form a crucial safety net for individuals impacted by workplace injuries. From medical coverage to financial support and vocational rehabilitation, these benefits aim to alleviate the physical, emotional and financial burdens that injured workers and their families face.
