Five Dangerous Words:

“Maybe it will get better.”

If you have the unfortunate experience of being injured at work, there are five words that should not run through your mind. These words, although tempting in the real world, will probably lead to a denial of your worker’s comp claim, and possibly to the loss of your claim at hearing, if one becomes necessary.

These words will cause delay in reporting the injury, allowing the compensation carrier to claim you were injured somewhere else, casting doubt on your credibility by letting the carrier claim that anyone who was injured tells someone (i.e. co-worker, doctor, etc.) about it.

These words will make it more difficult for you to recall accurately the date, and important circumstances, surrounding your injury.

These words will allow the doctor hired by the compensation carrier to cast doubt on the believability of what you say happened to you.

These words may make it difficult for your own doctor to link up your complaints to the incident that you believe caused your symptoms.

2003 Worker’s Compensation Rates

In 2003, the maximum temporary total disability rate is $669.00. Temporary total disability is paid while you are off of work healing from an injury. It is two-thirds of your gross wage. It is not taxable.

The permanent partial disability rate in 2003 is $222.00 per week. Permanent partial disability is paid once the doctor has released the injured worker from active medical care and has set a percentage of disability. The amount of permanent partial disability one receives is dependent upon the part of the body that was injured and the percentage of disability given at that part of the body according to a statutory formula.

If you have any questions on worker’s comp, personal injury, or social security disability, please feel free to call the Previant, Goldberg, Uelman, Gratz, Miller & Brueggeman law firm at 414-271-4500 or toll free at 1-800-841-5232.