Colorado Workers’ Compensation
In Colorado, the Department of Labor and Employment handles workers’ compensation claims. More precisely, Colorado workers’ comp is handled by the Division of Workers’ Compensation, an agency underneath the Dept. of Labor and Employment. Their stated mission and purpose is to “administer the system to provide for quick and efficient delivery of disability and medical benefits to injured workers at a reasonable cost to employers, while minimizing the need for litigation.”
The Division of Workers’ Compensation can be found at 633 17th Street, Suite 400, Denver, Colorado 80202-3626 or on the web at http://www.colorado.gov/cdle/dwc/.
The Division, in essence, exists to facilitate the process of workers’ compensation claims in Colorado. They are no the insurer or the entity that pays the workers’ compensation benefits. They answer questions, resolve disputes between insurer and injured worker, and process claims.
Estimating Payment of Colorado Workers’ Compensation Benefits
The Temporary Total Disability (TTD) payments are the same as in MD. You will get two-thirds of your average weekly wage up to he state average weekly wage. In 2010, the maximum compensation rate was $810.67. Workers’ compensation benefits are not taxable. If you do return to work part-time, but are unable to complete all tasks, you may be eligible for temporary partial disability or TPD. Temporary disability payments are designed to make up for lost work and lost compensation.
Permanent disability – either total or partial – is also a part of the Colorado workers’ compensation system. Once maximum medical improvement happens (meaning you will not get any better with respect to that injury), an independent medical evaluation occurs. The end rating determines the amount of compensation.
Scheduled impairments include toes, feet, legs, fingers, hands, arms, teeth, vision, or hearing. Scheduled means you get a certain amount of compensation based on these injuries. There are also non-scheduled injuries, as well as total inability to earn income, or permanent total disability. This type of workers’ compensation produces lifetime workers’ comp benefits.
Benefits are paid for workers’ who die on the job. Settlements must go through the commission. Cases may be reopened within six years. Attorneys fees can vary – not set by statute. However, 20% is a reasonable figure.
Colorado Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
There are a number of workers’ comp firms that handle comp throughout the state. However, there are also numerous practitioners concentrating in one area, big or small. When you speak to a Colorado comp lawyer, seek experience, knowledge, and a concentration in workers’ comp. You should deal with an attorney who has the ability to estimate workers’ compensation claims in Colorado. This shows both knowledge and experience.
Colorado Workers’ Compensation Calculator
The reason the ability to estimate the value of a Colorado workers’ compensation is so important: It reveals the CO workers’ comp lawyer’s knowledge of the subject. We aren’t aware of any specific Colorado workers’ compensation calculator such as we have for Maryland. (We are Maryland workers’ compensation lawyers.) However, if you enter your information into our calculator, we will do our best to find a good attorney for you. We cannot make any promises, but we will do what we can.
