How Long Will I Get to Stay on Workers' Comp in Colorado?

If you're injured on the job in Denver or anywhere in Colorado, you may be eligible for workers' compensation benefits, which can help pay for medical care, lost income, and more. Even with these benefits, though, many injured employees worry about their finances.

Two of the most common questions our Colorado workers' comp lawyers get at Flaxman Law Group is "How much will I get for my injury?" and "How long will I get to stay on workers' comp in Colorado?" Injured employees need to ask these questions because they need to plan for their increased costs and time away from work.

At Flaxman Law Group, our Colorado workers' comp attorneys understand that the timeline and limits associated with workers' compensation benefits can make a big difference to your ability to heal. For this reason, we make it easy to learn more about your workers' compensation claim. If you've been injured at work or have been diagnosed with an occupational illness, contact our Denver offices at 970-999-0530 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation with a Colorado workers' comp lawyer to discuss your situation.

For now, let's take a closer look at the benefits you can get from workers' compensation in Colorado—and how long they can continue.

Temporary disability benefits in Colorado provide financial support when you are temporarily unable to work due to a work-related injury or illness. The duration of these benefits depends on the extent of your disability and your ability to return to work. You may continue to receive benefits until your doctor determines you can return to work or can work with some modifications to your duties.

In cases where your work-related injury or illness results in a permanent impairment, you may be eligible for Permanent Disability benefits. Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) benefits are available when you have reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) but still have a permanent impairment. You may be eligible to receive PTD benefits in Colorado as long as you are disabled, even if that's the rest of your life.

If you can't return to your previous job due to your work-related injury or illness, the Colorado workers' compensation system provides vocational rehabilitation benefits, which help you acquire new skills or find alternative employment. How long you will get these benefits depends on the time required for education or training and other details of your specific case.

Medical benefits in Colorado pay for your necessary medical bills that arise from your work injury or occupational illness. These benefits pay for your care, without you needing to take care of any co-pays. Under Colorado workers' compensation laws, this benefit continues as long as your doctor feels there is treatment needed for your work injury or illness.

In the tragic event that someone is killed because of their work, death benefits in Colorado help surviving families pay for funeral expenses and help replace the income the worker contributed to the household.

These benefits are typically two-thirds of the injured worker's average weekly wage. How long they continue depends on who is receiving the benefit. For example, a widowed spouse is eligible to receive benefits until they remarry or for the rest of their life, if they don't marry again. Dependent biological and adopted children can receive the benefit until they are 21 years old if they are in school full-time or until they are 18 if they do not attend school full-time as adults.

While we've reviewed the general timelines for workers' compensation benefits in Colorado, if you're injured your main concern will be how long you can receive benefits. As we've seen, that varies, depending on the specifics of your situation.

The best way to determine how long you may be eligible for workers' compensation in Colorado and how long you can expect to get benefits is to speak with a workers' compensation attorney in Colorado. An experienced attorney can review the specific of your case and help you understand what benefits you qualify for.

Flaxman Law Group is proud to offer a free, no obligation case consultation with our team. If you've been injured at work, contact our Denver offices at 970-999-0530 to schedule a free accident consultation.