Workers of any profession can get injured at work. However, those who commonly engage in physical activities in the workplace are more at risk. While construction workers and factory workers are obvious examples of those who are at a heightened risk of injury in the workplace, nurses and other caregivers have a significant risk of becoming injured at some point in their careers.
Being hurt on the job can be particularly stressful because it can mean that you are no longer able to continue in your profession, and you may worry about how you will be able to earn an income in the future. However, workers’ compensation laws are in place to ensure that all workers have some protection in the form of compensation among other things. If you have been injured in the line of duty as a nurse, the following are some of the things to which you may be entitled.
Full coverage of medical costs
If you needed to seek medical attention as a result of your injury, this could potentially cause you to incur significant medical bills. By filing for workers’ compensation, all medical costs that were deemed necessary and appropriate for the injury that you suffered should be covered.
Getting back a portion of lost wages
During the time in which you are unable to work, you will not be earning an income. A sudden loss in breadwinning can be extremely stressful for many. In most situations, you will be able to gain back 2/3 of the wages you lost when recovering from a short-term injury.
Retraining where necessary
If your injury is long-term and resulting in some form of lasting disability, you may not be able to return to your job as a nurse. Workers’ compensation benefits can help you to retrain in a more suitable profession so that you can become employable again.
If you have been injured as a nurse in New Jersey and you are unsure of your rights, it is important that you take swift action to understand the state’s workers’ compensation laws.