What are Permanent Partial Disability Benefits?
Sometimes even the best medical treatment cannot restore you to the physical condition you enjoyed before your on-the-job injury occurred. When that happens, your authorized treating physician will give you a disability rating and you will receive Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) benefits.
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You have reached "maximum improvement" when your doctor has done everything he or she can do for you. At that time, your physician will evaluate your condition. Based on the American Medical Association guidelines, the doctor will decide what percentage of disability remains as a result of the accident. Your disability benefits will be determined by this disability rating.
For example, let's say you injured your shoulder at work. Before the accident you had no trouble with your shoulder. Strength and range of motion were both 100 percent. Now let's say it's two years after the injury. You've had surgery and physical therapy. But you still have pain and weakness in the shoulder joint and a limited range of motion.
Workers' Comp Disability Rating
Your physician may decide that you are 85 percent of what you were before the accident. That's a 15 percent permanent partial disability rating. Your disability benefits are based on this rating.
Our attorneys can help you evaluate what your disability benefits will be once the rating is assigned. If you disagree with the doctor's rating, please contact us as soon as possible. Our workman's compensation lawyers may be able to challenge the rating or arrange an independent medical examination by a doctor of your choice.
If you are already receiving weekly disability benefits but would like to negotiate a lump sum settlement of your workers' comp case, we can help. Please contact us to discuss how we can help.
