Getting hurt at work can quickly create problems beyond the injury itself. You may need medical treatment, be unable to perform your regular job, or lose income while you recover. You may also find yourself dealing with an employer or insurance company that disputes your workers’ compensation benefits.
Bruce Weider, PC represents injured workers in Belleville and throughout Southeast Michigan. Bruce has more than 30 years of experience handling Michigan workers’ compensation claims, including disputed benefits, work restrictions, medical treatment issues, and denied claims. Whether you were recently injured or are already having problems with an existing workers’ comp claim, we can help you determine what to do next.
What Workers’ Compensation Benefits Can I Receive After a Work Injury?
Michigan workers’ compensation can provide several types of benefits after a job-related injury or occupational illness. Depending on your circumstances, those may include:
- Medical treatment for your work-related injury
- Wage-loss benefits when an injury affects your ability to earn wages
- Vocational rehabilitation when you cannot return to work for which you have previous training or experience
- Certain additional benefits in cases involving specific losses, permanent and total disability, or a work-related death
You generally do not have to prove that your employer was negligent to pursue workers’ compensation. The central questions instead involve whether your injury is connected to your employment and what benefits you are entitled to under Michigan law.
If you're unsure whether your injury is covered, read more about what qualifies as a workers’ compensation injury in Michigan.
What Should I Do After Getting Hurt at Work in Belleville?
Report the injury to your employer as soon as possible and make sure there is a record of what happened. Michigan law generally provides up to 90 days to give notice of an injury, while a workers’ compensation claim generally must be made within two years. Waiting to report an accident can create disputes that might otherwise have been avoided.
Medical treatment is another major part of the claim. In Michigan, the employer generally has the right to choose the treating doctor during the first 28 days. After that period, an injured employee can generally change doctors after notifying the employer and insurance company.
For a more detailed checklist, see our guide to the steps to take after a work-related accident.
Work Injuries We Handle for Belleville Employees
A workers’ compensation claim can result from a sudden accident or from work that causes or aggravates a medical condition over time.
Bruce Weider, PC represents workers dealing with injuries such as:
- Back, neck, and spinal injuries
- Shoulder, knee, and joint injuries
- Repetitive-motion and overuse injuries
- Slip-and-fall injuries at work
- Machinery and equipment injuries
- Construction injuries
- Occupational illnesses and harmful workplace exposures
The type of injury matters, but so does what happens afterward. Problems can arise when an employer disputes whether the condition is work-related, an insurance carrier challenges medical treatment, or your physical restrictions prevent you from returning to your previous job.
What If My Employer Cannot Accommodate My Work Restrictions?
Returning to work can become complicated when your doctor places restrictions on lifting, standing, walking, bending, repetitive movement, or the number of hours you can work.
Michigan's workers’ compensation system considers an injured employee's ability to earn wages after an injury. Depending on the circumstances, an employee who returns to lower-paying work may still qualify for partial wage-loss benefits.
Disputes can also come up when an employer says modified work is available but the assigned duties do not match the restrictions imposed by your doctor. We can review your medical restrictions, your employer's proposed work, and how the return-to-work situation may affect your workers’ compensation benefits.
What If My Workers’ Compensation Claim Is Denied?
A denial does not necessarily end a Michigan workers’ compensation claim. Employers and insurance carriers may dispute whether an injury arose from employment, whether a medical condition is connected to the job, whether the employee remains disabled, or whether particular benefits should be paid.
When a claim is disputed, an injured employee may need to file an Application for Mediation or Hearing with Michigan's Workers’ Disability Compensation Agency.
If your benefits have been denied, stopped, or disputed, Bruce can review what happened and determine what evidence and legal issues need to be addressed. You can also read our guide on what to do after a workers’ compensation claim is denied in Michigan.
How Bruce Weider, PC Helps Injured Workers in Belleville
Workers’ compensation problems do not always begin with a complete denial. You may be receiving some benefits while still having a dispute about your medical care, wage-loss payments, work restrictions, or ability to return to your previous job.
Bruce Weider has spent more than 30 years representing injured workers in Michigan. Our firm can evaluate your workers’ comp claim, address disputes with employers and insurance carriers, develop medical and other evidence, and represent you when a contested claim proceeds to mediation or a hearing. We represent workers from Belleville and communities throughout Southeast Michigan.
Talk With a Belleville Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
If you were injured at work in Belleville and are having trouble getting the medical care or workers’ compensation benefits you need, contact Bruce Weider, PC.
Whether you are dealing with a recent workplace injury, unpaid wage-loss benefits, work restrictions, or a denied workers’ comp claim, Bruce can review what is happening and explain the next steps available under Michigan law.
Request a free consultation with Bruce Weider, PC about your Belleville workers’ compensation claim.
