What Are They? How Can They Affect Your Life?
You’ve been hurt on the job in Texas. You have the right to seek compensation for your losses, whether through a workers’ compensation claim or personal injury lawsuit. If your employer subscribes to the Texas workers’ compensation system and your workers’ comp claim is approved, you can expect, at some point, that medical professionals will conduct an examination and provide what is commonly referred to as an impairment rating. What is an impairment rating? How is it used and how might it affect your claim?
What Is an Impairment Rating in a Fort Worth Workers’ Compensation Case?
An impairment rating comes into play in a Texas workers’ compensation claim once your application for benefits has been approved and after your doctor has determined that you’ve reached “maximum medical improvement (MMI).” Maximum medical improvement simply means that, in the opinion of your doctor, no further meaningful or measurable improvement can be achieved or expected from your injury.
The impairment rating represents a medical assessment, stated as a percentage, of the extent of physical injury or loss of function associated with a workplace injury or disease. When calculating the impairment rating, your doctor will take a number of factors into account, including:
- Any permanent physical limitations caused by your injury
- Any chronic or persistent pain associated with or resulting from the injury
- Any loss of strength, balance, flexibility, or range of motion caused by the injury
How Does the Impairment Rating Affect Your Benefits?
Once you reach maximum medical improvement, your benefits will change. Moving forward, the number of weeks of eligibility will be based on your impairment rating. The higher your impairment rating, the more benefits you’ll receive.
Contact Us To Set Up an Appointment After a Workplace Injury
At Advantage Healthcare Systems, we have extensive experience working successfully with workers who suffer injury on the job. We have a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the workers’ compensation laws in Texas, and we can help you take the right steps to protect your health and financial rights after a workplace injury.
Call us toll-free at 1-877-487-8289 or fill out the form provided below to schedule an assessment. We offer locations across Texas, including Fort Worth, Dallas, and San Antonio.
