A career as a roofer is very dangerous. There are various ways in which a roofer can become injured. For example, a roofer can accidentally injure a hand while hammering in a nail. A roofer can hurt their back when carrying heavy roofing materials. Or, a roofer could fall off the roof and become injured in this way. If you are a roofer and you have recently been injured on the job, you might be entitled to workers' compensation.
Eligibility
You will be entitled to workers' compensation if you work as an employee. However, if you are an independent contractor, you will probably not be entitled to workers' compensation. However, you should talk to a lawyer because you might be considered an employee under the laws of your state.
With workers' compensation claims as a roofer, your right to compensation depends on the state in which you reside. For example, in some cases, you are not entitled to compensation if your injuries are not part of the normal scope of your profession. In other cases, you are not entitled to compensation even if you were injured while not working as long as your injuries do not prevent you from working.
Compensation for Disabilities
Regardless of which part of your body is injured, you will be entitled to compensation as long as your injuries prevent you from working. If one of your body parts is partially injured, you will receive compensation for that body part after your doctor determines what percentage of your body part is still functional.
Beware of the Statute of Limitations
To receive your full benefits, you must act quickly. There is a statute of limitations when filing a workers' compensation claim. One of the most important steps you must follow is to notify your employer about your worker's compensation claim. This will begin the workers' compensation claim process.
How to Avoid a Claim Denial
Your workers' compensation claim might be denied if you do not include all of the necessary information. For example, you will need to explain where your accident occurred, how it occurred, and how you became injured as a result. You will need to also present medical evidence that you are injured and you must follow your doctor's orders.
If your claim is denied, it's not over. You will still have appeals and you have the option of filing a lawsuit. Your lawyer may go over other options as well such as filing an SSDI claim.
Reach out to an attorney such as Andrew C. Burrell P.A. to learn more.