If you have been injured on the job and your insurance company and employer are tossing around unfamiliar terms, you may feel confused and overwhelmed. Familiarizing yourself with some commonly used workers' comp concepts will make the workers' compensation process more clear and understandable for you. There are a handful of terms that refer to payment and other benefits you could receive, so it is useful to understand what they mean before you sign documents or make any legally binding agreements.Common Phrases and their meanings
"Weekly Compensation Rate" refers to a two-thirds portion of your average weekly earnings that you could be entitled to receive.
"Maximum Medical Improvement" or MMI is the highest level of recovery you could reach based on the authority of medical professionals.
"Impairment Rating" is a percentage that your doctor will assign to indicate how much you are able to use the injured part of your body.
"Disability" is a rating that dictates how much compensation you will get, which takes into account your age, job duties, education, state of health, and other considerations.
"Clincher" is an agreement that may provide you with more monetary compensation but forces you to give up your rights to any medical care in the future.By better understanding the terminology associated with workers' compensation, you may be in a better position to make a strong claim for compensation following a work related accident. Without sufficient compensation, it may be difficult for you to continue to provide for your family while taking enough time off work to appropriately recover from your injury.Contact UsIf you are seeking benefits for a job-site injury, call an experienced Charleston workers' comp attorneys of The Steinberg Law Firm to learn more about your rights.