If you sustained a serious injury at work you may feel overwhelmed with the idea of not having enough income to pay your bills and maintain your lifestyle. Most people who have suffered a serious injury and are unable to work feel this way.
It is crucial that the injured worker promptly investigate and understand their legal rights. In some cases, there are several sources of potential lost wage replacement benefits. Making sure that you understand whether or not you qualify for each one could make a difference between being able to pay your bills during your recovery period or being hounded by collection agencies.
If you are injured at work you may qualify for Workers’ Compensation benefits. If your disability is permanent and it is determined that you are unable to return to any sort of work in the future, you may also qualify for Social Security Disability benefits.
In other cases, if you are partially disabled and collecting partial Workers’ Compensation benefits you may also qualify for unemployment benefits.
Individuals who are injured outside of work and are disabled may be entitled to New York State Disability benefits and possible Social Security Disability benefits if their injury is severe enough.
The rules which apply to each of these claims are complicated. The best thing the injured worker can do to assure that he is collecting all possible benefits is to speak with an experienced attorney who is familiar with the many avenues that may be available.
