Is it Permanent Partial Disability?

When an employee suffers an injury that is work-related or while on the job this can put significant pressure and strain on the individual. However, work-related injury or illness happens to many workers. This article will discuss how to determine if an employee is entitled to permanent partial disability.

According to the Employee Assistance and Resource Network (EARN) on disability inclusion ‘worker’s compensation programs replace some of the employee’s earnings when injured on the job and pay for their medical expenses related to the injury. Additionally, workers compensation is intended to pay for medical care for work-related injuries immediately. However, permanent partial and permanent total disability benefits are often paid as compensation to workers who have long-lasting consequences of disabilities caused by an injury or accident on the job.’

A work-related injury or illness can have both short-term and long-term effects on an individual's ability to return to work and engage in regular physical and leisure activity, and enjoy normal daily life. In most cases workers who are injured who suffered illness due to their job are covered through worker’s compensation benefits. These benefits provide a percentage of lost wages and the costs of needed medical treatment. However, many workers do not know that they can be entitled to additional benefits if they suffer a permanent medical condition as a result of a work incident.

Permanent partial disability is a benefit designed to compensate those who have been hurt or developed a disease on the job and have been unable to fully recover from their condition. According to US Code Subsection 908 permanent partial disability is stated as follows: "In case of disability partial in character but permanent in quality the compensation shall be 66 2/3 per centum of the average weekly wages".

When an employee suffers an injury or illness as a result of their job the first step is to file a claim for worker’s compensation through their employer with the help of an auto injury accident lawyer. Worker’s compensation covers those who show that their injury or disease happened as a result of their workplace duties. Once approved worker’s compensation can cover immediate care, surgery, medication, physical and occupational rehabilitation or needed treatment. In addition, it will also pay a percentage of the worker’s wages for the time that they are unable to return to work.

When an employee undergoes treatment but is unable to fully recover the next option is to file a claim for Social Security Disability Insurance. In order to be eligible, the worker must have reached maximum medical improvement. This basically means that they are medically unlikely to improve further despite medical care. In such a situation the employee may need to file a claim for permanent partial disability.

Filing for permanent partial disability is a complex process that involves a number of factors. There are certain physical conditions that automatically qualify such as the amputation of limbs, loss of vision or hearing. There is a medical guide that lists specific medical criteria that determines a person’s eligibility for permanent partial disability. For legal advice and representation speak to a worker’s compensation accident attorney in Alaska.

Resource Box: For, the author recommends the Crowson Law Group.

Are you a victim of medical malpractice? If you are looking for accident claims advice, the author recommends the Crowson Law Group.