Workers Compensation in Bangor, ME
You aren’t alone if you ask “How does workers comp work?” Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that provides wage and medical benefits to people who have become ill or injured while at work. The extent of workers’ comp coverage an employer has to carry depends on Maine state law. Thus, in trying to figure out how workers comp works, it helps to understand the laws on the books in the state where the business operates. If the injury or illness a worker sustains is eligible for compensation, the insurance carrier should help ease the burden. Learn some of the basic principles of Bangor, Maine workers’ compensation insurance and how the process works.
Workers Compensation Statistics in Bangor, Maine?
According to Maine’s Department of Labor, Penobscot County had the third-highest number of work-related injuries in 2019. This ranking is in line with Penobscot being the third most populated county in the state. The occupations with the highest number of work-related injuries in the state are freight, stock & material movers, heavy & tractor-trailer truck drivers, and nursing assistants. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 46% of the Bangor workforce are in trade, transportation and utilities, and education and health services. Since so much of the Bangor workforce are in these dangerous occupations, this could lead to a lot of work-related injuries in the city.
How Does Workers Comp Work in Bangor, Maine?
Unfortunately, going through the process of applying for workers’ compensation begins with getting sick or injured on the job. The circumstances surrounding the incident that led to your problems are especially crucial. For example, the injury had to occur during your regular work duties. While an event that happens during your lunch break wouldn’t apply, getting into a car accident while running an errand for your boss would qualify.
Maine requires nearly all private and public-sector businesses to carry workers’ compensation insurance. The only exceptions to this are agricultural and aquacultural industries that hire seasonal workers. Consequently, every Bangor employee should have coverage starting on the first day of employment. Regardless of fault, injured employees can receive temporary and permanent disability benefits, medical care, and retraining benefits. Under Maine law, mental injuries from stress may qualify if the stress was work-related and extraordinary.
For example, say your supervisor asked you to drop something off on your lunch break. While running this errand you then get in a car accident on your way to the destination. Any resulting injury is eligible for workers’ compensation. However, if you are on your lunch break, performing no such task when you get in an accident, it does not qualify for a claim.
The steps you take immediately following a workplace incident in Bangor, Maine are critical for purposes of filing a claim. Follow the following steps to preserve your rights and learn how workers comp works.
Get Medical Attention
After you get injured or feel ill, the first step is to see a doctor. Don’t delay seeking help from a Bangor, Maine healthcare professional. This could not only jeopardize your health, but you run the risk of missing time-sensitive deadlines. Having a proper medical report detailing the extent of the damage and how it occurred is the first step in the process. Your employer cannot file a claim with their insurance carrier without this information.
When dealing with a job-related illness, the symptoms and diagnosis may not happen right away. You may find yourself attending regular checkups and testing for weeks or months. Your doctor may make the determination that the illness is either the result of your work conditions or aggravated by them. Once they do, see your human resources representative to file a workers’ compensation claim.
File a First Report of Injury
The first report of an on-the-job injury or illness will provide the workers’ compensation insurance carrier with the details of the events leading up to the injury. In this report, you will provide your physical injuries, the medical treatment you received, and the facilities that provided it. It’s always a good idea to bring a copy of the doctor’s report to submit with the report of injury.
To qualify for benefits in Bangor, you must notify your employer immediately of your injury. You could lose benefits if you wait longer than 30 days to notify your employer of your injury or illness. The employer then has seven days to file the First Report of Injury with the Maine Workers’ Compensation Board. If your employer’s insurance carrier denies your claim, you have two years from the date of injury to file a petition. In Bangor, the Penobscot County Workers Compensation Office is conveniently located in the city.
Timeline and Other Information
Maine law requires that workers’ compensation beneficiaries wait ten days before receiving reimbursements. If your treatment requires more than two weeks of rest and care, you will receive payment retroactively for that time. Benefits can be two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to a maximum of 90% of the average state weekly wage. Insurance companies have 14 days to accept or deny your claim. If you experience a partial incapacity that persists, you may be eligible to receive benefits for up to 520 weeks.
Your employer should furnish you with information about the claims process. The adjuster or insurance carrier representative may want to speak to you at some point about the incident and any witnesses. In the meantime, the workers’ comp insurer may begin paying medical benefits while the investigation continues.
Why You Should Hire a Bangor, Maine Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
While workers’ compensation claims may be straightforward for some cases in Bangor, Maine, in others, it may be more difficult. For example, your employer may decide to question whether you suffered the injury on the clock or your own time. It’s also common for a company to question the full extent of your injury. Hiring a Bangorworkers’ comp lawyer ensures that you have an advocate to fight for your rights as a victim.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In Bangor, Maine
If you suffer an injury or contract an illness as a result of your job in Bangor, Maine you need to find the right people to help. Since the workers’ compensation claims process can have pitfalls, you should consider getting a local attorney who knows how to avoid them.
Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!
