Personal Injury

The short answer is no. Nebraska is an “employment at will” state, meaning an employer, or an employee, can terminate the work relationship at any time without cause. With that said, firing an employee in Nebraska while they are actively receiving workers’ compensation is a violation of the law.

A very common misconception among injured workers is that you are suing your employer or place of work. The reality is almost every employer in Nebraska is required to have Workers’ Compensation Insurance for their workers. Just like insurance for your car, this is insurance that protects your employer in the case of a work-related injury. While most people are happy to find out they are not suing their employer, getting the money you deserve from a workers’ compensation insurance company is not always simple or straightforward.

Report the Injury
It’s absolutely critical that you report the injury to your employer right away. Follow whatever internal procedures (typically an incident report) that your company has for when an injury occurs. Make sure that your manager or supervisor is aware of the report and keep a copy of the report for yourself.

Seek Medical Treatment
It is very important to seek medical treatment immediately — even if you think the injury is not that serious. It’s unfortunate, but many attorneys who work for insurance companies will twist any fact they can to delay, or devalue, your claim. Seeking medical treatment right away helps document the injury, shows the injury was critical, and evidences the employee has been doing everything they can to get medical treatment.

Follow All Medical Instructions, Attend Follow-Up Appointments
Not only is following your doctor’s orders the best thing for your physical recovery, it’s also important that you are not creating reasons for the insurance company to question the validity of your work injury claim.

Talk to a Workers’ Compensation Attorney
It’s typically very difficult to get all of the treatment and compensation you are entitled to without getting a work comp lawyer involved. A lawyer can advocate for you and handle the negotiations with the work comp insurance company. Your attorney can also arrange an independent medical evaluation if you are having trouble with the doctor that was assigned to you.

With very few exceptions, the workers’ compensation insurance should cover all required medical costs related to your accident, including your hospital stay. If you are concerned about your medical bills getting paid or you are having problems with the work comp carrier, it’s a good idea to speak with a local work comp attorney.