Kentucky’s workers’ compensation laws are designed to provide protection and support to employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses.
Understanding these laws is crucial for employees. As an employee, knowing the following about workers’ compensation laws will help you protect your rights.
Eligibility for workers’ compensation
To be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, an individual must be an employee who has sustained an injury or illness directly related to their job. This includes injuries occurring on the work premises or elsewhere while performing job-related duties. Independent contractors and volunteers typically do not qualify for these benefits.
Benefits available
Workers’ compensation laws provide a range of benefits to eligible employees. These benefits include medical treatment for the injury or illness, temporary total disability benefits if the worker is unable to work, permanent disability benefits for lasting injuries and vocational rehabilitation if the worker needs to be trained for a different position due to their injury.
Filing a claim
To protect their rights, injured workers must report their injury to their employer as soon as possible. The formal claim for workers’ compensation benefits must be filed within two years of the injury date or the last payment of voluntary temporary total disability benefits, whichever is later. Failure to adhere to these timelines can result in the loss of rights to compensation.
Dispute resolution
If a dispute arises between the employee and the employer or the insurance carrier regarding the workers’ compensation claim, Kentucky offers several avenues for resolution. This includes mediation, hearings before an Administrative Law Judge and appeals to the Workers’ Compensation Board and higher courts if necessary.
Understanding Kentucky’s workers’ compensation laws is the first step in protecting your rights after a work-related injury or illness. Employees are encouraged to seek guidance and assistance to navigate the claims process and ensure they receive the benefits to which they are entitled.
