A Look at Impairment Ratings and Disability Determination

Every year, thousands of employees get injured on the job. Many injuries leave employees unable to work at their old jobs for months, years, or for the rest of their lives. When an employee becomes impaired or disabled after suffering an injury on the job, it brings up several important considerations in regard to workers’ compensation. If you have become disabled or impaired in any way, consider having a
workers’ compensation attorney discuss impairment ratings and disability classifications with you.

Disability Classifications

In the workplace, disability is defined as an employee’s inability to perform a certain job. For example, a paraplegic accountant may not be considered disabled, as his impairment doesn’t prevent him from doing his job. A construction worker who loses the use of his legs, however, would be considered disabled. In Colorado, disabilities are classified as permanent or temporary and total or partial. The nature of your disability as determined by a medical professional can have a direct effect on the amount of compensation you receive.

Impairment Ratings

According to the American Medical Association, an impairment is “an alteration of an individual’s health status.” Depending on a person’s line of work, an impairment may or may not be deemed a disability. In Colorado,
impairment ratings go from zero percent to 100 percent, with 100 percent being the highest possible disability. Again, a worker’s impairment rating directly affects the amount of compensation he receives. Impairment may refer to the inability to move the limbs, vision difficulties, brain damage, hearing loss, or any other deviation from normal bodily function that compromises a worker’s ability to do his job.

When to Seek Legal Help

If you don’t think you’ve received the proper impairment rating given the extent of your injuries, you may seek help from a skilled workers’ compensation lawyer. The lawyers at The Bendinelli Law Firm can help defend your total or partial disability claim and help you obtain your due compensation. We’re dedicated to helping injured employees in Westminster and elsewhere in the Denver area obtain everything they need to recover from their injuries and be comfortable.