What tips should I keep in mind?

Report your injury to your employer within 24 hours -- delays can jeopardize your claim. Workers comp is no-fault -- you receive benefits even if the accident was your fault. You cannot sue your employer directly (workers comp is the exclusive remedy).

Workplace Injury Calculator

Estimate your workplace injury claim value, including workers comp benefits and potential third-party liability.

Average Weekly Wage ($)(Your average gross weekly earnings)

Weeks Off Work(Total weeks unable to work)

Medical Costs ($)(Workers comp covers 100% of medical)

Disability Type

Third-Party Liability?(Was someone other than your employer at fault?)

Results

Visualization

How It Works

Workers compensation provides no-fault benefits including 100% medical coverage and typically 2/3 of your average weekly wage. If a third party (not your employer) contributed to your injury, you may also file a personal injury lawsuit for full damages including pain and suffering.

The Formula

WC Benefits = Medical (100%) + Weekly Wage x 66.67% x Weeks Off + Disability Award

Variables

WC Rate — 66.67% of average weekly wage (varies slightly by state)
TTD — Temporary total disability -- paid while unable to work
PPD — Permanent partial disability -- lump sum or weekly for lasting impairment
Third-Party — Separate personal injury claim against non-employer at fault

Example

Earning $1,200/week with 8 weeks off and $15,000 medical (TTD): WC weekly = $800, wage replacement = $6,400, total WC = $21,400. With third-party claim: additional $64,200.

Tips

Report your injury to your employer within 24 hours -- delays can jeopardize your claim.
Workers comp is no-fault -- you receive benefits even if the accident was your fault.
You cannot sue your employer directly (workers comp is the exclusive remedy).
Third-party claims allow full damages including pain and suffering.
Always see a doctor approved by the workers comp carrier for initial treatment.