In Indiana, claims for personal injury or death by accident arising out of and in the course of employment are governed by the Indiana Worker’s Compensation Act. Worker’s compensation provides limited benefits to injured workers in the form of:
These are the primary benefits an injured employee may be entitled to under the Act. However, other benefits are available under certain circumstances, such as, if the employee is rendered permanently and totally disabled or if an employee dies in a workplace accident.
When a compensable injury occurs, the employee should receive immediate medical treatment if necessary. If the employee is temporarily unable to work because of the injury, he or she is considered disabled and may receive limited wage-replacement compensation, called temporary total disability, or TTD. The employee may be placed on light duty or on a reduced schedule, in which case partial disability payments may be provided. When the injury heals to the point that it will likely get no better and no worse, the employee may then be examined to determine if there is any permanent impairment, meaning a permanent loss of a body part or function. If the injury is found to result in a permanent impairment, the employee will be compensated according to a statutory schedule.
If you are injured at work or believe that an injury or illness is work-related, the following steps should be taken:
If your claim is denied, you have the right to a hearing before the Worker’s Compensation Board.