Best Workers Compensation Lawyers in Fort Smith, AR

Fort Smith, AR Workers Compensation FAQs

• What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Fort Smith, Arkansas?

  Please call the Fort Smith police department at (479)709-5000 for non-emergency matters.

• Where can I get a copy of police report for incidents related to my case in Fort Smith, Arkansas?

  The Fort Smith police department provides online retrieval of incident, accident, and offense reports through this portal: https://old.fortsmithpd.org/ReportsOnline.asp.

• What mistakes can one make that may compromise their workers’ compensation claim in Fort Smith?

  Many employees commit mistakes that could compromise their workers’ compensation claim in Fort Smith. These include: -Failing to follow medical advice; -Missing their scheduled doctor’s appointments; -Posting information regarding their injuries and life on social media; -Inflating their injuries; -Neglecting to mention pre-existing conditions; -Failing to discuss their injury with their workers’ compensation lawyer; -Hiring an attorney without making an in-person analysis of their case.

• Can a Fort Smith employee with a workers’ compensation insurance sue their employer?

  No, employees cannot sue their employer. In Arkansas, which governs Fort Smith, worker’s compensation insurance is considered an “exclusive remedy.” Thus, those injured employees can only file their claims through the Worker’s Compensation Commission. In addition, they are also not entitled to jury trials. However, they can file claims against several persons and entities other than their employer, such as companies that make, design, supply, and install machines that caused their injuries.

• What are some basic facts about workers’ compensation that Fort Smith employees must know?

  Some basic facts about workers’ compensation that Fort Smith employees should know are the following: -The insurance is paid for exclusively by the employer; -The employee is responsible for reporting accidents as soon as they occur; -Coverage only pays for necessary medical care needed for workplace accidents; -The insurance carrier or employer has the right to select the victim’s physician; -The insurance also covers part of the employee’s lost wages if their doctor advises them to stop working.

• What are some workers’ compensation guidelines regarding payment for lost income in Fort Smith?

  If employees in Fort Smith need to miss work due to work-related illness or injury, they can be eligible for cash benefits known as indemnity benefits. It involves a waiting period of seven calendar days and should be at their approved doctor’s direction. The coverage starts on the eighth day following the worker’s partial or complete disability. They will only be paid for the first seven days if they are disabled for over 14 days, which need not be continuous calendar days.

• What are the workers’ compensation benefits for employees with various types of disability in Fort Smith?

  The benefits that Fort Smith employees get are 66 2/3% of their wages, with a weekly payment range of 20 to 522 dollars and a maximum period of 450 weeks for those with temporary total disability. Employees with permanent total disability can get paid throughout the length of their disability, while employees with permanent partial disability get a weekly maximum payment of 392 dollars, with a maximum amount of 176,400 dollars for non-scheduled injuries.