Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Law Library TOPIC: Workers Compensation

Back injuries are among the most common workplace injuries. More than one million American workers are adversely affected by back pain. Back pain is responsible for more lost work than any other musculoskeletal disorder, with nearly half a million workers missing at least one day of work due to back pain, and about 100,000 back pain sufferers miss 31 or more days of work a year.

Back injuries affect workers in all economic segments, including:

• Retail
• Medicine or nursing
• Manufacturing
• Transportation

Worse, back injuries can be hard to properly document for compensation with workers’ compensation claims.

Under Oklahoma law, there are sample benefits prescribed for most types of injuries, such as a lost finger, broken arm, or amputation injury, but back injury compensation is based on a doctor’s estimate of your percentage disability to the body as a whole. This is based on descriptions given in the American Medical Association’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. This will be based on the degree of your impairment in many types of activities, such as lifting, bending, sitting, walking, stooping, and other activities.

Back injury is highly susceptible to re-injury, so it’s important that if you return to work you are given appropriate limitations.

The workers’ compensation lawyers of Self & Associates have experience helping injured workers in Oklahoma City to get the compensation they deserve. For help with your workers’ compensation claim, please contact Self & Associates today for an appointment.

Workers’ compensation is a law that makes sure all employers have insurance that will provide medial care and compensation to any employee who is injured in a job related accident. The damages you may be entitled to under workers’ compensation if you were injured while performing your job include:

• Lost wages
• Hospital bills
• Cost of prescriptions
• Doctor’s bills
• Physical therapy

If you lost a loved one in an on-the-job accident, you may be entitled to compensation. With the help of Oklahoma City workers’ compensation lawyer James Self, you can file a workers’ compensation case to collect compensation for economic loss if your loved one was the main financial provider, burial costs, and medical bills.

The first course of action you must take after suffering an injury due to an on-the-job accident is to receive medial attention. Make sure your doctor evaluates your condition and determines if you need to take time away from work to heal. Documentation from a medical professional will aid in your workers’ compensation case.

The next course of action to take is contacting Self & Associates to schedule your free evaluation of your case. The skilled workers’ compensation lawyers at Self & Associates will guide you through the difficult legal process of workers’ compensation and help you file your claim.

After scheduling your consultation, remember to contact your employer and inform them of your accident. You must contact your employer and seek medical attention within 60 days following your accident or your claim may be denied. The workers’ compensation lawyers at Self & Associates will explain your rights and the legal actions that need to be taken in order for you to have a successful case.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed due to an on-the-job accident in or around Oklahoma City, please contact the workers’ compensation lawyers at Self & Associates today.

What is workers’ compensation?

Workers’ compensation is a law that requires all employers to provide financial compensation and medical care to any employee that suffers a personal injury while on the job during the employee’s employment. Workers’ compensation covers any injuries suffered due to accidents, unsafe conditions, or negligence by your employer or another employee.

What compensation am I entitled to under workers’ compensation?

Under the workers’ compensation law, you may be entitled to damages for:

• All medical bills including prescriptions, hospital stays, and physical therapy
• Economic loss to include 70% of your average weekly wage (up to the legal limit
• Compensation to the employee’s family if the employee died due to the injuries suffered
• Training for another position if your injuries suffered prevent you from performing your current duties

The compensation you are entitled to depends on the injuries you have suffered and the cause of your on-the-job injuries. Tulsa workers compensation lawyer James Self at Self & Associates Personal Injury Law will discuss your workers’ compensation case with you in detail. He will answer all of your workers’ compensation questions and guide you through the legal process.

Will I get workers’ compensation benefits?

In order to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, you must prove that you are unable to perform your current duties for more than three calendar days due to the injuries you suffered in the on-the-job accident. Attorney Self will help prove that your working environment lead to the accident that resulted in your inability to perform the duties of your current job.

To schedule a free workers’ compensation case evaluation in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area, please contact workers’ compensation lawyer James Self at Self & Associates.

Technically, you don’t. Workers’ compensation is designed to be easy to file and should ensure you get compensation without having to defend yourself or your actions to anyone.

Unfortunately, the reality is often very different. “Easy” as defined by lawyers and bureaucrats is not the same as it is when defined by regular people or workers trying to get compensation. Although the instructions are “clear,” it can be next-to-impossible for people without legal training or experience with the law to file for the compensation they need.

Some injuries are particularly difficult to document. If your injuries are related to pain or nerve damage, it is not uncommon for doctors, employers, and workers’ compensation insurance companies to allege that you are either not hurt or are not hurt as badly as you claim.

Other times, your employer may try to make you defend your workers’ compensation claim. He may allege that you were on drugs at the time of the accident, that the injury was the result of a pre-existing condition, or that you suffered injury when you were off-the-clock or at a non-work-related activity.

If you are having trouble filing for or getting compensation for your work-related injury, a workers’ compensation attorney can help. Please contact Self & Associates in Oklahoma City today for a consultation.

Determining your eligibility for workers’ compensation in the state of Oklahoma is not something you should do on your own. If you suffer an on the job injury, contacting Self & Associates for assistance in filling out paperwork and filing a claim can help simplify this often complex and confusing process.

Basic Eligibility for Workers’ Compensation

You are eligible to receive workers’ compensation for injuries sustained on the job that result in medical expenses and have the potential to interfere with your ability to work. These injuries include:

• Repetitive stress injuries
• Chemical exposure
• Burns and cuts
• Broken bones
• Disfigurement
• Head, neck, and back injuries

If you are not certain about your eligibility for workers’ compensation, one of our experienced personal injury attorneys can provide you with a freecase evaluation to help determine eligibility.

If you have been injured on the job in the state of Oklahoma, please contact the workers’ compensation attorneys at Self & Associates to schedule your free case evaluation today.

When you suffer an on the job injury in Oklahoma, you need an attorney who is experienced in helping injured workers get the compensation they deserve. Your workers’ compensation claim can be difficult to file and even more difficult to appeal if it is denied. Having a workers’ compensation attorney on your side from the beginning can ease this process and help ensure you are treated fairly and given what you are due.

Self & Associates: A Voice for Workers

With over 30 years of experience helping workers recover from their injuries, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma attorney Jay Self can assist you during every stage of your workers’ compensation process. You will be up against your employer’s insurance agency in this battle, and having an aggressive advocate on your side can make the difference between inadequate and full compensation.

Additionally, you may be eligible for damages beyond what workers’ compensation offers. Carefully reviewing the details of your case, attorney Self can help you determine if negligent parties can be held liable for your injuries.

If you live in the state of Oklahoma and have been injured on the job, please contact the dedicated workers’ compensation attorneys at Self & Associates to schedule a free consultation today.