Workers Compensation in Maine
You aren’t alone if you wonder how workers’ compensation works.
Workers’ compensation is insurance that provides wage and medical benefits to people who have become ill or injured while at work. How far this coverage goes depends on Maine state law.
If your injury or illness is eligible for compensation, the insurance carrier should help ease the financial burden.
Learn some of the basic principles of Maine workers’ compensation insurance and how the process works.
Workers Compensation Statistics in Maine?
In Maine, 41% of claimants for workers’ compensation are over the age of 45. The most common injuries that occur are sprains, strains, tears, and overexertion. These Injuries make up more than 50% of claims filed in Maine, according to The Maine Bureau of Labor Statistics. Most claims filed concern lower back issues as a result of repetitive motion, improper training, or overexerting with strenuous activity.
How Does Workers Comp Work in Maine?
There is a standard practice to follow when going through the Maine workers’ compensation process.
The circumstances surrounding the incident that led to the injury are crucial. The injury had to occur during your regular work duties.
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. The Maine Department of Business Services states that Maine has a no-fault system when it comes to governing workers’ compensation. This system entitles you to benefits for medical bills, lost wages, and permanent impairments incurred as a result of a job-related injury or illness.
The steps you take immediately following a workplace incident in Maine are critical for 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 receiving help from a Maine healthcare professional. Taking too long could not only jeopardize your health, but you run the risk of missing deadlines.
Even if you believe your injury is minor, get a proper medical report detailing the extent of the damage and how it occurred. This step is the top priority in the workers’ compensation claim process. Otherwise, your employer cannot file a claim with the insurance carrier.
You may have regular checkups and testing for weeks or months before a doctor finally connects your illness with your job. Your medical records will become the foundation from which the workers’ comp carrier will launch its investigation.
Generally, your doctor determines if the illness happened because of your work conditions or became aggravated by them. Once they do, see your human resources representative to file a workers’ compensation claim.
File a First Report of Injury
Once you have a medical diagnosis relating your illness or injury to your job, you must file a claim with your employer.
The Maine Department of Labor says that if a first report of an employee missing one or more days of work due to injury or work-related illness has been filed in Maine, the statute of limitations for a workers’ compensation claim is 2 years from the date of the filing of the report. If no report has been filed then it’s 2 years from the date of the injury or discovery of symptoms.
You should seek immediate medical care if you have been injured or are experiencing symptoms. After that, it is important to file a report with your employer as soon as you can. A dispute may arise between you and your employer. If so, it’s best to try and settle it without filing a petition. If it can’t be settled, then you can contact an attorney to help file your petition.
Contents of the Report
The First Report of Injury will provide the workers’ compensation insurance carrier with the necessary details. They must know your physical injuries, the medical treatment you received, and the facilities that provided it.
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.
Maine workers’ compensation laws state that if you have partial incapacity you can receive benefits for a maximum of 520 weeks. Payment is 80% of your after-tax wage. There is no minimum weekly payment in Maine. The maximum is 90% of the average weekly wage, or $596.42.
Why You Should Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Many people believe that the injury claims process is straightforward. While this may be the case in some instances, it may be more of a hassle.
For instance, your employer may question whether you were hurt on the clock or on your own time. The company may also start to question the extent of your injury.
Don’t question how workers comp works and risk losing your claim. Hire a Maine workers’ comp lawyer and ensure you have an advocate to fight for your rights.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer in Maine
Your health and well-being need to come first. If you are hurt while working or find out an illness you are suffering is the result of your job, you will want to seek compensation.
We can connect you with a local attorney or one across Maine state lines.
Submit a request online or call us at (866) 345-6784 to find a workers’ compensation lawyer today!
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