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The law states that you must notify your employer within 30 days of the accident of your injury. A claim for compensation must be filed with the U.S. Department of Labor within one (1) year of the accident or last payment of compensation disability benefits.

You receive temporary disability benefits as long as you are unable to work as verified by your physician and you are under active medical care. Once the doctor determines that further treatment will not improve your condition (maximum medical improvement), then a determination is made whether your injury has resulted in any permanent disability, and if so, the extent of such disability.

If it is determined that you are unable to resume your duties at work, compensation benefits must be continued to be paid by the insurance company. The burden is on the employer/insurance company to offer you a lighter job at the same company or to show that there is suitable alternative work available to you within your physical or mental restrictions within a reasonable geographic area of your residence.

If you are disabled from any job, even light or sedentary work, you are entitled to permanent total disability benefits to be paid at your weekly rate of compensation. If you cannot return to your regular job but can perform light or sedentary work, and the injury is to the head, neck, shoulder, back, hip or internal injuries you will be paid permanent partial disability benefits if the alternate job pays less than what you were earning on the job when you were injured.