Oklahoma Work Injury Compensation

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Oklahoma Injury Compensation Guide

Learn about Oklahoma Workers Compensation laws including status, temporary total disablity, temporary partial disability, permanent total disablity, permanent partial disability, average weekly wage, workers compensation statistics and Oklahoma workers comp classifications.

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Oklahoma Work Injury Compensation
If you are injured while at the workplace, there are a series of laws that govern the basic tenets of the situation. Oklahoma has passed specific statutes that govern several issues relating to workers’ compensation, and one of the areas of law that dictates how such an issue is handled deals directly with compensation for work injuries. Below is an overview of how these laws work and what you can expect in terms of compensation if you are injured while working.

Statutes of Oklahoma Workers' Compensation

In Oklahoma, there are several abbreviations used that you will come to understand if you are injured in the workplace. A few relevant terms to the issue of compensation include:

  • TTD – Temporary Total Disability
  • TPD – Temporary Partial Disability
  • PTD – Permanent Total Disability
  • PPD – Permanent Partial Disability
  • AWW – Average Weekly Wage

These terms are variables that are used to compute compensation to which the injured worker is entitled while he or she is unable to work. In terms of what a worker would be entitled to if he or she is injured while working, the first classification that needs to be made is whether or not the worker is permanently or temporarily disabled. The amounts to which an injured worker is entitled is at least partially determined by statute. If it’s decided that a worker should receive temporary total or permanent partial disability compensation, the weekly amount payable is 70% of the worker's average weekly wage up to the maximum rate in effect on the date of injury.

The ‘maximum rate’ refers to a statutory amount that is defined by the legislature. As of November 1, 2008, the maximum rate payable to an injured worker deemed to fall under the TTD classification is $683 per week. A worker classified as PPD is entitled to $342 per week. These dollar amounts are to remain in effect until October 31, 2011. It should also be noted that payments made for a worker designated as TTD will continue for a period of 156 weeks if necessary. That time period can be extended to a maximum of 300 weeks if the injured worker shows the court good cause. Workers classified as PTD will continue for a period of 500 weeks.

Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Statistics

Many wonder why the laws that govern workers’ compensation are so specific and contain so many terms and classifications. The reason is that tens of thousands of people are injured on the job every year in Oklahoma, and as a result there needs to be some degree of oversight in place to make sure that equity is achieved.

Consider these statistics published by the State of Oklahoma for 1999:
  • Total workplace injuries reported to the court – 84,203
  • Total compensation claims filed – 19,959
  • Total court-approved settlements – 15,100
  • Total dollar amount in settlements - $150,383,144.00
  • Total PPD awards - $53,538,929.00
  • Total TTD awards - $1,905,940.00

As you see, thousands of issues arise every year within the jurisdiction. What this means is that it’s easy to imagine that certain claims can fall through the cracks and mistakes can be made. In order to make sure that this does not happen to you, it’s best to seek out the services of a workers’ compensation lawyer to make sure you get the classification and the award you deserve.

Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

Aside from making sure that you obtain all the medical and compensation benefits you deserve if you’ve been injured on the job, you need the help of a workers’ compensation lawyer because there are several issues that could arise during your proceeding. If these issues are not handled properly, it could cost you money and either shorten the timeframe for which you’ll receive benefits or disallow your receipt of them altogether. Below are just a few ways in which a lawyer can help you in Oklahoma.


 
 

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  • Oklahoma Classifications

  • Workers Comp Sources

  • Injury Compensation - Benefits

  • Classifications of Oklahoma Workers' Compensation

    The amount of the award you will receive will depend upon your classification. Unfortunately, the law dictates that the employer is the entity which chooses the doctor who will examine you, and that potential conflict of interest is one that warrants attention from an outside source. The lesser your injuries are purported to be in the eyes of the court, the lower in amount and shorter in duration your ultimate award will be.

    Clearly, there are many reasons to work with a workers’ compensation attorney if you’ve been injured while on the job. Contact Atkins & Markoff today to schedule an initial consultation to get this process started.

  • Sources of Compensation for Injured Oklahoma Workers

    The first issue that you’ll need help analyzing regards the potential sources for compensation for injured workers. The numbers and statistics detailed above represent the benefits that are available from the state’s insurance fund, a fund to which your employer is required to contribute by law. However, there are other sources, including private insurance policies and even damages for a personal injury claim if the facts indicate that the employer or someone within the employer’s realm of responsibility acted with negligence that led to your injuries and subsequent inability to work.

  • Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Benefits

    Workers’ compensation benefits are clearly prescribed by statute in Oklahoma. The relevant classification of the status of the injury is included along with the worker’s average wage and the statutory limit in regards to what the award will ultimately be worth. There are many pitfalls inherently present in these situations, which is why you need the help of a workers’ compensation attorney.