Workers’ Compensation: General Terms You Should Know

Nevada employees know that workers’ compensation provides them with medical care, lost wages and additional benefits if they are injured on the job or develop a job-related illness. Because they obtain the right to these benefits, they cannot sue their employer for compensation in most cases. In Nevada, workers’ comp falls under the jurisdiction of the Division of Industrial Relations, which oversees the claims and ensures that state laws are followed.

Understanding Key Terms Used in Workers’ Compensation

So you can understand better the process of workers’ compensation in the state, it is helpful to be familiar with some of the terms used. These terms include the following:

• Occupational injury: This is an injury that occurs to an employee while they are at work. Examples include falling off a ladder, being injured by an object that falls or a partial building collapse on a construction site.
• Occupational disease: Occupational diseases arise in certain types of employment. For example, carpel tunnel may result from repetitive movements operating a machine, and asbestosis occurs from primary or secondary exposure to asbestos on a work site.
• Primary treating physician (PTP): This designation refers to your primary care doctor who writes up your medical reports related to your workers’ compensation benefits.
• Independent medical examiner (IME). This term refers to a qualified medical examiner.
• Impairment rating (IME): The IME refers to the estimated percentage of body parts lost by the employee. This estimate is made using published guidelines by the American Medical Association (AMA).
• Arising out of employment or during the course of employment (AOE/COE): These acronyms are used when determining whether or not an employee suffered an injury on the job.

Disability Ratings and What They Mean

• Temporary partial disability (TPD): This rating is used for employees whose injury is temporary and may affect their ability to perform their job but is expected to improve and is offered light-duty work.
• Temporary total disability (TTD): A TTD occurs when a worker is injured and cannot perform their job, but the employer has not offered light-duty work.
• Permanent partial disability (PPD): The worker has suffered a permanent ratable injury that interferes with their earning capacity. However, they can still perform work.
• Supplemental job displacement benefit (SJDB): If the worker suffers a permanent partial disability and the employer does not offer another job, you may be able to recover this benefit. The injured worker receives it as a voucher that helps pay for skill enhancement or educational training at state-accredited schools.
• Permanent total disability (PTD): The worker has suffered an injury that prevents them from working at all.
• Commutation: Commutation is a workers’ compensation judge’s order providing for a lump sum payment for part or all of your award for permanent disability.
• Maximal medical improvement (MMI): This is the point where an injured worker has been stabilized and will improve no more whether they receive additional treatment or not. `

Jay Short-Attorney at Law: Workers’ Comp Cases

At Jay Short-Attorney at Law, all we do is handle workers’ comp cases in Nevada. We have the experience and legal acumen you need when your claim has been denied or other problems arise. A skilled attorney can handle the legal aspects of your case while you concentrate on recovering. Let’s work together to obtain a fair and just outcome for you.