Work-related injuries can happen anywhere, and no industry or sector of employment is immune from accidents. Countless jobs today have workers outside the office, on equipment and horses, making deliveries, performing construction work, and otherwise exposing themselves to potential injury.
Steffens Law Office has represented injured workers and employees in a host of different fields of employment and has helped them to secure adequate compensation for their injuries. If you’ve been hurt in a work-related accident, call to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your legal rights.
About the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Act
The Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Act is essentially a no-fault law and differs from the need to prove negligence or fault, as in other areas of personal injury law. In essence, when you are injured while working, doing what you are supposed to be doing, you can recover from your employer’s insurance carrier even if your own mistakes or inexperience caused the injury.
Examples of cases in which worker’s compensation benefits may apply include:
- A roofer falling off a roof
- A factory worker getting his hand caught in a machine
- A feedlot pen rider falling off his horse
- A nurse hurting her back helping a patient
- A waiter slipping on a spilled drink
- A delivery person injured in a car accident
The Act, while not perfect, does provide an avenue for injured workers to receive compensation for their injuries. Specifically, the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Act provides injured employees with payment for time lost from work, payment for medical expenses incurred as a result of the injury, and compensation based upon the severity and permanency of the injury.
In select situations, the law also provides for people who are so severely injured that they cannot return to their job and must be retrained or paid total disability benefits. In addition, the law sets forth penalties and interest for the unreasonable delay in paying benefits determined to be due to the injured person.
Protecting Your Rights With An Experienced Nebraska Workers' Compensation Lawyers
After suffering a work-related injury, you should immediately report the incident to your supervisor. He or she will fill out an incident report that is used to start your claim for worker's compensation benefits.
Mistakes to avoid when filing a worker’s compensation claim include:
- Don’t play tough. Trying to tough out the pain or a new symptom because you don’t want to make a big deal out of the injury is a recipe for disaster. An injury that seems minor initially can easily turn out to be a more serious condition.
- Don’t ignore your doctor’s orders. Skipping appointments, not taking medication, or engaging in activities that are not recommended only hurts your case.
- Don’t view the insurer as your friend. The insurance company is not on your side. They will try to frustrate you into giving up by denying or delaying medical treatment or indemnity payments.
- Don’t assume you can’t afford a lawyer. Steffens Law Office represents workers’ compensation victims on a contingency fee arrangement. We collect no fees if you do not. If we are able to obtain a recovery for you, we will be paid a percentage of the recovery from the award. Please call William Steffens or Jeremiah Luebbe at Steffens Law Office, P.C. at (308) 872-8327 or contact us online to schedule an appointment to discuss your legal options.