Suffering a serious work-related injury can sometimes result in permanent injuries. In these cases, your injury may not completely take away your ability to work, but it may make it impossible for you to return to your previous job or position. As a result, you may feel at a loss as to how you can go about potentially obtaining the necessary skills to work a new job.
Permanent injuries
Several types of permanent injuries could considerably reduce your ability to carry out certain duties. Your injury may have resulted in the loss of a limb, nerve damage, mangling, spinal cord damage or paralysis. Additionally, burns and neurological, sight, hearing or speech impairment or total loss could also have affected you. Any of these injuries could potentially qualify you for workers’ compensation. Luckily, workers’ comp may provide you the opportunity to participate in vocational rehabilitation.
Vocational rehabilitation
Vocational rehabilitation involves providing injured workers with assistance for finding a new job or position. In some cases, this rehabilitation may include training in order to obtain necessary skills to take on a new position. Additionally, assistance with resume building and job applications could also be provided.
If you have suffered a serious injury and vocational rehabilitation has been offered, you have the responsibility to move forward with the program. In Missouri, if you refuse rehabilitation, your benefits may face a reduction until you accept. Therefore, you may wish to consider your options and determine how you would like to approach your particular case. You may do well to remember, however, that this type of program comes as a benefit in hopes of improving your situation.
Other workers’ comp benefits
Vocational rehabilitation is just one benefit that workers’ compensation could provide. Depending on the specific circumstances of your case, you may also obtain other benefits that may assist you financially. Exploring more information on workers’ compensation and what steps you may need to take in order to potentially obtain benefits may prove useful.
Because navigating the proper channels when it comes to seeking benefits may seem confusing, you may wish to consult with an experienced attorney. Legal professionals could help you better understand the types of benefits to which your injury entitles you and what actions may prove necessary if complications arise with your workers’ compensation claim. Additionally, if you believe vocational rehabilitation could help you but you did not gain the option, an attorney may have the ability to help you seek such a benefit.