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Maine Workers Compensation Lawyer

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Workers' compensation is essential in today's workforce. Injuries, unfortunately, are part of many jobs. When injuries occur, it is the responsibility of a company's insurance policy to cover workers' compensation, unless the company is self-insured. However, it is the responsibility of the injured worker to report the injury and file for the process. Very often the process is not easily manageable, especially when work-related injuries impair mental capacities. Whether you are suffering from constant migraines or a sprained knee, if the injury occurred at work, you are entitled to a variety of things, and contacting an experienced workers' compensation lawyer attorney in Maine can ensure that you receive those entitlements.

In Maine, workers' compensation is compulsory, meaning it must be filed by the potential claimant within a certain amount of time. It is the employer's responsibility to provide the employee or the employee's family with medical and disability benefits due to a job-related injury or death.

Workers compensation is a type of insurance that accommodates employees who need compensation for medical care due to an injury during the course of work in exchange for the employee's right to sue their employer for negligence. Plans vary according to jurisdictions, though they can be made for weekly payments instead of wages as a type of disability insurance, compensation for past and future economic losses, the payment or reimbursement of the medical expenses as a type of health insurance, and benefits payable to the dependents of workers who were killed as a type of life insurance. Not included in worker compensation plans are punitive damages for employer negligence and general damages for pain and suffering.

In Maine, worker's compensation insurance coverage may be provided through a private insurance company or through a state fund. Also, some employers choose to be self-insured.

In certain circumstances, an employee may not be eligible for workers' compensation if it can be proven that employee negligence, or drugs and alcohol, was involved in the injury.

In most cases, agricultural employers that have six or less employees are not required to provide workers' compensation coverage. Aquaculture employers follow this same guideline. Agricultural employers that employ seasonal workers are not required to provide worker's compensation coverage. In the state of Maine, voluntary compensation may be provided for domestic servants.

There are no time or monetary limits regarding medical benefits for those who are entitled to workers' compensation in Maine. Waivers are not permitted, and there are no numerical exceptions. The employer gets the initial choice of a physician, then the employee has their free choice after a period of time. The waiting period for compensation benefits after the injury is seven days. Compensation is retroactive if the disability continues for more than 14 days from the date of the injury. The attorney fees that are permitted in Maine mostly depend on the individual cases, though the cap of a settlement is $7,500.

For temporary total disability (TTD), permanent total disability (PTD), and permanent partial disability (PPD), payments are a percentage of the employee's weekly wages. Payments for TTD and PTD can last as long as the employee is disabled. Unemployment benefits may alter TTD payments as well as PTD payments. Payments for PPD can be limited to a certain amount, or possibly last as long as the employee is disabled. Award payments to the employee start at the time of the injury. If an employee receives TTD benefits, awards can be reduced.

In the state of Maine, an employee who suffers a deformity of the face, head, or neck may receive benefits. Mental and physical rehabilitation is available for employees who are eligible for worker's compensation.

If the employee dies as a result of his or her injury, death benefits are given to the employee's spouse or the spouse and his or her children. Death benefits are a percentage of the employee's wages. Death benefits given to the spouse and children can be limited in certain circumstances. The spouse or spouse and children can receive a burial allowance.

In the state of Maine, those seeking workers' compensation can hire an attorney. The Workers' Compensation Board of Maine determines attorney's fees for workers' compensation cases.

Choosing an attorney with whom you are comfortable with is important, as they can play a big role in alleviating the stress that is associated with an injury and finances. While you focus on recovering, they focus on getting you your fair share.