Workers’ compensation does not pay a full salary in Nevada. Depending on your physical restrictions after sustaining an injury at work, you could qualify for up to two-thirds (66.66 percent) of your former weekly wages. Even though this is not a full salary, workers’ compensation benefits were designed to help injured workers survive financially while they recover from injuries incurred due to their work duties.
Being injured on the job is a difficult position to be in, and the pain, mental trauma, and lost wages can be overwhelming. Employees in Nevada could seek workers’ compensation benefits for an on-the-job injury and may be eligible to pursue multiple forms of compensation.
Who Can Apply for Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Nevada
In Nevada, nearly all employees are protected under workers’ compensation laws. The law requires all private employers to obtain workers’ compensation insurance if they have one or more employees, according to the State of Nevada Department of Business and Industry. If you were injured at work, you are probably eligible for benefits, regardless of who caused the injury.
Because workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, you do not have to prove that someone else was at fault for your injuries in order to qualify. Even if you were not on a formal work site when you were injured, you could be protected by workers’ compensation. For instance, if you were employed as a driver as part of your work duties and you got into a car accident, your injuries could be covered.
However, there are some gray areas you need to know about:
- If you assault someone at work and are injured in the fight, you will not be eligible for workers’ compensation payments.
- Injuries that occur on the way to or after leaving work are not covered.
Occupational Illnesses
You could seek compensation for diseases or illnesses contracted due to your working environment or work duties. Occupational illnesses can happen in many different ways. For instance, if you develop a disease due to exposure to dangerous fumes at a factory, you could apply for benefits while you recover from the disease or are receiving treatment and unable to work.
Other examples of workplace diseases or illnesses that could be covered by workers’ compensation laws in Nevada include cancer, lung diseases, or even stress-related conditions if your work environment was especially dangerous.
For a free legal consultation, call (855) 605-2959
Nevada’s Workers’ Compensation Benefits Coverage
When you have been hurt in an accident at work, there are a few ways you may suffer the most. You could experience pain and mobility loss due to your injuries and you may be forced to pay expensive medical bills. During this time, you could miss out on income while recovering from your injuries.
Some people even deal with permanent injuries, which could impact their earning power for the rest of their lives. Because of these main issues that injured workers experience, work comp benefits were designed to account for them.
Workers’ compensation benefits could include:
- Temporary total disability payments are meant to supplement lost income until you can return to work and are usually paid at 66.66% of a worker’s full salary. These benefits begin once a doctor states that you were unable to work for a minimum of five consecutive days or five days within a period of 20 days.
- Temporary partial disability payments can supplement an income reduction if you return to work at a reduced capacity. These benefits pay 66.66% of the difference between the wages you earned before the injury and after the injury.
- You could be compensated for your medical bills. You will need to seek treatment through a provider authorized through the workers’ compensation system, though.
- You can also receive payment for permanent partial or permanent total disability if you sustained permanent impairment due to your injury.
- Death benefits are available for family members of workers who are killed on the job.
Get Legal Help with Your Workers’ Compensation Claim from an Attorney
Nevada workers’ compensation does not pay a full salary, but many benefits are available to help you cover the losses to your income and your medical expenses. You may have other questions about applying for benefits after an accident at work. Filing a workers’ compensation claim is a legal undertaking, and the process can be challenging for an injured worker.
High Stakes Injury Law may be able to help. We have obtained hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients, and we are proud to serve injured workers in the Las Vegas area. Call (702) 444-3228 for a free case consultation.
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