Most workers take comfort in knowing that any injuries they may suffer on the job will be covered by workers’ compensation insurance. However, they may not realize that claims are often disputed, and it may take years before the worker receives any compensation. Oklahoma residents may be interested in a workers’ compensation claim that was recently settled 18 years after the injury occurred. The case involves a bus driver from another state who suffered workplace injuries when he was 45 years old. Now, at the age of 63, he was awarded a settlement of $777,000.
The accident, after which two of the bus driver’s limbs were partially amputated, occurred when the bus he was driving carried a full load of passengers. Reports indicate that the bus crashed into a Cadillac that had cut it off. This was followed by the bus slamming into a pillar, injuring 22 people.
The bus driver suffered severe injuries that led to the amputation of his left hand and the partial amputation of his left leg. After his recovery, he was fitted with prosthetics and continued driving county buses. The bus driver’s career was filled with disciplinary incidents after the incident, and he resigned in 2013.
Oklahoma workers who have suffered workplace injuries may claim benefits from the workers’ compensation fund. All employees of contributing companies are entitled to receive compensation to cover medical expenses related to workplace injuries, along with a partial payment of lost wages. Workers who are experiencing problems with claims for worker’s compensation benefits may want to make use of available help to ensure a speedy resolution of disputed claims.
Source: Sun Sentinel, “Injured county bus driver gets $777,000 payout 18 years after accident“, Brittany Wallman, May 6, 2014