Workers’ Compensation

There are a number of benefits available under the Workers’ Compensation System.  We help those injured on the job receive the benefits after suffereing a work related injury.

 
Attorney Laura McKinnon answers questions about Arkansas Workers’ Compensation during Ask The Expert on KFSM Channel 5

Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits:

  • Medical Benefits
  • Total Temporary Disability (TTD)
  • Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)
  • Wage Loss

Medical Benefits:

Medical treatment must be authorized by the companies Workers’ Compensation carrier. Your treatment must also be what we call reasonable and necessary for your continued healing. There are two ways of getting a different doctor than the Workers’ Comp carriers doctor. One if he is unable to treat you he can refer you to a specialist, or two Workers’ Comp has a Change of Physician form. We do not recommend using this change of physician until after you have spoken with an attorney because you only get one during your case and you don’t want to change to the wrong type of doctor.

Total Temporary Disability (TTD):

TTD is paid to the claimant if he/she is under active medical treatment, still in his/her healing period, and has a note from their doctor restricting them or taking them off work. TTD benefits are paid at 2/3’s of the average weekly wage up to the Commission’s regulated maximum. TTD payments should be received until the claimant reaches the end of their healing period.

Permanent Partial Disability (PPD):

PPD is owed to the claimant when the healing period has ended and they are left with a partial permanent impairment. Doctor’s give this impairment a rating based on the AMA Guide to Permanent Impairments 4th Edition.

Wage Loss:

Wage Loss is paid in addition to the Impairment rating when an employee can no longer do their job due to the impairment and is forced to get a job the ends up paying less. The Judge usually takes into consideration age, education, work history (wages earned and job skills acquired), medical problems, motivation to work “and other factors reasonably affecting the claimant’s ability to earn”.