Vocational Rehabilitation for Injured Workers
Raleigh Workers' Compensation Lawyer
Vocational rehabilitation can help an injured employee rebuild work skills that have been lost due to injury and illness. Many people can return to their jobs due to the help of rehabilitation, after sustaining injuries that were so serious that they needed retraining to gain skills necessary to fulfill another job.
The type and extent of vocational rehabilitation available to you may vary depending on the extent of injury, the jurisdiction and more. As such, it is important to consult a knowledgeable attorney at our firm as soon as possible to learn what types of workers' compensation benefits you may be allowed, including vocational rehabilitation. A Raleigh workers' compensation lawyer can answer your questions and address your concerns in order to help you make an informed decision about moving forward with a claim and seeking the benefits you need.
At The Whitley Law Firm, we represent clients throughout all of North Carolina. We have offices in Raleigh, Greenville, New Bern, Jacksonville and Kinston to serve clients throughout the state, and we offer a free initial consultation to talk about your case and whether vocational rehabilitation is an option for your claim. To get started, call us at 1-800-598-0456.
Examples of Vocational Rehabilitation
Although the specific amount and type of vocational rehabilitation you may be entitled to will vary based upon your unique case, following are some of the types of benefits you may be entitled to:
- Training on the job
- Skills testing to transfer jobs
- Interview coaching
- Surveys
- Job placement assistance
- Job analysis
- Counseling
- Wage assessment
- Ergonomics assessment
- Reasonable accommodations through the American with Disabilities Act
- Education funding for retraining
Employer Responsibility for Rehabilitation
Workers' compensation carriers and employers may have responsibilities related to vocational rehabilitation that are regulatory and statutory. An employer may be required to offer rehabilitation if there has been a significant loss of work and wages related to a person's injury or illness. Many times, an offer must be made within a certain amount of days. Requirements for rehabilitation services will often vary based upon the employee's injury and state regulations.
An employee may be able to receive living expenses, tuition, room and board, travel expenses, child-care expenses and more in addition to wage loss benefits. This is mandated as long as a person is participating in rehabilitation services. There are workers with special qualifications that can provide rehabilitation in many states, including certified disability management specialists, certified rehabilitation counselors or certified case managers. The qualifications of these workers and how they are involved often varies throughout different jurisdictions.
Contact a Raleigh Workers' Compensation Attorney
The laws regarding the vocational-rehabilitation responsibilities of employers, insurers and claimants vary by state. If you or a loved one has a work-related injury or disease, a skilled lawyer at our firm can answer your questions about the right to vocational rehabilitation.
For help with your case, contact a Raleigh workers' compensation attorney at our firm today.