ALABAMA STATE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAWS

In Alabama, most companies are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, including any business with five or more full- or part-time employees. This coverage is designed to provide partial wage replacement and other benefits to workers who suffer an injury or illness on the job. The benefits you receive will vary depending on the severity of your ailment and how drastically it has affected your ability to work.

If you suffer a workplace injury or illness and must spend time away from work as a result, you may be entitled to disability benefits under Alabama law.

• Temporary Total Disability: Temporary total disability (TTD) benefits are available to workers who miss more than three days of work following an injury. TTD benefits amount to two-thirds of your average weekly wage up to a maximum cap. You’ll receive these payments until you can return to work or achieve maximum medical improvement (MMI), which is the point at which further treatment will not benefit you.
• Temporary Partial Disability: If you’re able to work but at a reduced capacity, you may receive temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits. TPD benefits provide two-thirds of the difference between your pre- and post-injury wages. For instance, if you earned $600 a week prior to your injury and $300 after, you’d receive two-thirds of the difference, or $200. These benefits are paid up to 300 weeks.
• Permanent Total Disability: After your medical treatment is complete, you’ll undergo an evaluation for permanent total disabilities (PTD). If you’re found to have one, you’ll receive weekly payments for life at the same rate and maximum as TTD benefits.
• Permanent Partial Disability: If your doctor determines that you have a permanent partial disability (PPD), you may be eligible for:
• Scheduled Awards: A scheduled award accounts for a permanent disability to certain body parts, including the eyes, arms, and legs. These benefits furnish two-thirds of your weekly wage but are subject to a lower maximum than TTD benefits.
• Unscheduled Awards: If you injure a body part not listed on the schedule, you may receive an unscheduled award at two-thirds of your weekly wage before your injury, multiplied by the percentage of impairment to the body.
• Disfigurement Awards: For a serious disfigurement that limits your ability to find work, a judge may award up to 100 weeks of payment at two-thirds of your average weekly wage.

Alabama workers may also receive:

• Medical benefits for all reasonable and necessary healthcare treatments
• Mileage reimbursement for travel to and from doctors’ appointments
• Vocational rehabilitation to learn a new marketable skill
• Death benefits for the loved ones of a worker who has died
• Funeral expenses up to $6,500

Though Alabama’s workers’ compensation laws may appear clear-cut, your employer or their insurance company may deny your claim. They may argue that your injury was attributable to a preexisting condition or perhaps that your injury didn’t even occur on the job. No matter the rationale, if your benefits are denied, don’t hesitate to contact a workers’ compensation attorney at Morgan & Morgan. Our highly skilled attorneys can:

• Gather critical medical evidence in support of your claim
• Negotiate a favorable settlement with the insurance company
• Appeal a claim that’s been denied
• If necessary, help you file a lawsuit against the insurance company

If you’ve been injured at work, you owe it to yourself to protect your rights and recover all the benefits you’re entitled to. Morgan & Morgan can help. Fill out a free case evaluation to get started.