In certain circumstances, a worker may also have a right to file a third-party personal injury claim against someone besides his or her employer. Because our New Haven County workers’ compensation attorneys handle both workers’ compensation and third-party liability claims, we can help you explore your full range of options for compensation.
For a free consultation with a Connecticut workers' compensation attorney, CALL 203-303-1895.
Law Office Of Christopher J. Kenworthy LLC located in Wallingford, CT, has provided representation to thousands of injured workers in Connecticut. We can help you understand your rights, and help your family get the compensation you need so you can heal and move forward with your lives.
Areas of Practice
Has your workers’ compensation claim been denied? Do not give up. The majority of workers’ comp claims are denied initially. This does not mean that your claim is not valid or that you cannot get benefits. With a lawyer’s help, you can appeal the denial.
If you claim has been denied, we can review it and determine the reason for the denial. In many cases, claims simply do not contain the correct information. We know what the Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Commission wants to see in the application. We also know that you may need to see a different doctor to get an accurate diagnosis. Under Connecticut law, you are allowed to see a doctor of your choice.
Workers’ compensation provides compensation for a percentage of the injured worker’s lost wages, impairment of earning capacity and certain disfiguring injuries. It also provides medical benefits for treating the injury/illness and to cover out-of-pocket medical expenses. Many workers have trouble getting the benefits they need on their own, however. They need a lawyer’s help.
Connecticut workers’ compensation provides medical benefits for on-the-job injuries and occupational diseases. In most cases, injuries and illnesses are covered by workers’ compensation, even if the worker is at fault for the accident.
Medical benefits include:
- All necessary and Appropriate Medical Treatment
- Medical Bills Paid by Employer or Employer’s Insurance Carrier
- Reimbursement for Travel to Medical Appointments
- Reimbursement for Lost Work Time for Medical Treatment
- Prescription Reimbursement
- Right to See Your Own Doctor
After a work injury, the injured employee should see a doctor at a facility designated by his or her employer for the initial treatment. The worker may choose a different doctor after the initial treatment if he or she chooses.
Once you have had an initial visit with your employer-designated doctor, you may choose to see a different doctor. If your employer participates in an approved medical care plan, you must choose a doctor who is included in that plan. Choosing a doctor who is not on the plan may put you at risk for losing your workers’ compensation benefits.
When a work injury or illness prevents you from working, workers’ compensation disability benefits provide a portion of your lost wages. You are also entitled to a financial award if you suffer permanent total disability and/or a disfiguring injury.
Wage replacement benefits are provided for employees who are temporarily or permanently disabled by an on-the-job injury or occupational disease. There are state minimum and maximum amounts for each disability rating:
- Temporary total disability benefits are based on 75 percent of your average weekly wage for the 52 weeks prior to the injury.
- Temporary partial disability benefits are based on a percentage of the difference between your average weekly wage for the job at the time of injury and your average weekly wage on light duty or at a job with lower pay.
- Permanent partial disability benefits are granted when you suffer a permanent disability to part of your body. Benefits are based on the permanent partial disability rating issued by the treating doctor. You may also receive vocational rehabilitative job training benefits.
Under Connecticut law, when a worker is injured on the job, he or she has a right to receive workers’ compensation benefits. What many injured workers do not know is that if they were injured due to the negligence of someone other than his or her employer, he or she can also seek compensation through a third-party liability claim.
In many situations, an injured worker is limited to workers’ compensation benefits. However, there are several exceptions, which include:
- When a co-worker intends to cause you harm
- When a co-worker is operating a motor vehicle and injures you
- When a person who is not a co-worker or a company that is not your employer injures you
If you have been injured in a construction site accident as an employee, you likely are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. If the injury occurred as a result of the negligence of a third party or a driver, you may be able to pursue additional compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.
We handle all types of construction-related injuries, including:
- Slip-And-Fall Accidents
- Power Tool injuries
- Industrial Accidents
- Occupational Diseases and Hazards
- Auto Accident Injuries on a Job Site
- Heavy Machine Injuries
- Commercial Trucks
- Falls from High Elevations, Such as Ladders, Scaffolding and Other Building Structures
As a factory or warehouse worker who was injured on the job, you have the right to recover workers’ compensation benefits for lost wages, medical bills, medical care, job retraining, permanent disability and other injury-related expenses. If your industrial accident was the result of someone’s negligence other than your employer, you may also be able to file a third-party personal injury claim.
We can handle all types of injury claims, including:
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Back Injuries
- Wrongful Death
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Neck Injuries
Workers who perform certain tasks need respirators to prevent the inhalation of dangerous fumes and particles. Many jobs can expose workers to these hazards, including manufacturing, construction, demolition, truck driving, cargo loading and unloading, and industrial cleaning. Any job that involves working with solvents, insulation, gasoline, paint, dust or textiles may expose workers to hazardous substances.
We represent people who have been injured or contracted an occupational disease from toxins such as:
- Asbestos
- Benzene
- Mold
- Smoke
- Diesel Exhaust
- Silica Dust
- Wood and Dust Fibers
Connecticut’s Heart and Hypertension Act was enacted in 1977. The act was specifically established to protect police officers and firefighters who develop heart conditions or hypertension (high blood pressure) throughout the course of their jobs. Police officers and firefighters can obtain compensation in addition to regular workers’ compensation benefits.
Police officers and firefighters regularly encounter stressful and life-threatening situations. The Heart and Hypertension Act recognizes this, and operates under the presumption that a police officer or firefighter who develops a heart or hypertension condition while employed in that job developed the condition because of the job.
A workplace accident does not need to end in a visible or life-altering physical injury in order to qualify for workers’ compensation. Many workers suffer repetitive stress injuries, or injuries caused by repeated motions and strains that can be just as serious.
Some examples of repetitive stress injuries include:
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Tendinitis
- Herniated Disc
- Chronic Back Pain
- Tenosynovitis
- Bursitis
Loss of vision and/or hearing can occur suddenly, such as in the case of a workplace explosion. In other situations, the loss can be gradual, such as hearing loss that results from being exposed to a loud work area over a number of years. In either case, it is important to inform your employer of the injury and to see a doctor about treatment options. Once you have taken these steps, it is important to get legal advice as soon as possible. There are certain deadlines that must be met in order to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.