When you file a workers’ compensation claim, you are submitting yourself to the exclusive remedy of the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court. This means that you will not be filing a normal personal injury claim, but will instead be receiving benefits that are laid out under the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Act. The two main things that you will be compensated for are lost wages and medical expenses. For wages, you will be paid a percentage of your average wage for the time that you miss from work due to your injury. If you are able to return to work, but at a reduced rate, you will be able to recover a percentage of the difference between your average wage and your current wage.
Your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company will also be required to pay for any reasonable medical expenses related to your claim. This is why it is very important to make sure that your medical providers are aware that your injury is the result of a workers’ compensation claim, so that the correct insurance company is billed for your expenses.
In some rare cases, there may be addition expenses that the insurance company can pay, such as death benefits, loss of consortium to a spouse, or vocational rehabilitation benefits. Your attorney can advise you as to whether your claim qualifies for any additional benefits.
