Worker’s Comp Cases are like Fingerprints.....

Worker’s Comp Cases are like Fingerprints, no two are the same…

By Attorney Erica Gonzalez-Melendez

Snow, Carpio & Weekley

Occasionally I get the question from a client:  Why did their neighbor’s cousin who barely had a back injury recover triple figures in his case but they who lost a finger get so much less in permanent compensation? 

First of all, every state in the country has a different workers compensation system with different rules for compensating injuries. But even in Arizona no two cases are the same, the cases will vary depending upon the body part which is injured, the job duties prior to the injury, the work restrictions that a client is left with at the end of the injury, the amount of impairment a doctor gives, and the average monthly wage of the worker.   

Even if two different workers have the exact same injury, losing a hand for example, the compensation would end up depending on their work duties before the injury and how much they were paid at the time of injury (the average monthly wage).  With two workers with the same type of back injury, the final compensation will depend upon the permanent restrictions given by a doctor, the education level of the worker, work history, average monthly wage at the time of injury and the job duties at the time of the injury. 

It’s important to think critically about the work that anyone is doing on your behalf, usually your worker’s compensation attorney is working hard to get the maximum compensation in your case.  Obviously if you have a question about why your case is so different from another injured worker, you should ask your attorney. 

For more information on Workers' Compensation or Social Security Disability, please contact Snow, Carpio & Weekley toll-free at 855-325-4781 or visit our website at www.workinjuryaz.com. We serve the entire State of Arizona and have offices located in Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma and Lake Havasu City.