Scheduled injuries typically include injuries to your hands, arms, feet or legs. Unscheduled injuries usually involve injuries to your head, neck or back.
Scheduled and Unscheduled Injuries – Understanding the Difference
The Legislature has established defined benefits for injuries to workers’ limbs. Injuries to your hands, arms, feet or legs would constitute “scheduled” injuries. If your doctor determines you have permanent disability to one of your limbs, you will receive disability benefits based on the Legislature’s list of “scheduled” injuries.
Work-related injuries to your eyes and work-related hearing loss are examples of other “scheduled” injuries. The severity of your injuries determines the amount of the permanent partial disability benefits you should receive.
Examples of common “scheduled” injuries include:
- hand and wrist injuries
- elbow injuries
- shoulder injuries
- knee injuries
- foot and ankle injuries
- hip injuries
- eye injuries
- hearing loss
“Unscheduled” injuries refer to injuries not included on the Legislature’s list of “scheduled” injuries. Examples of “unscheduled” injuries include injuries to your head, neck, and back. The benefits available for “unscheduled” injuries are much more variable—and potentially much more lucrative—than benefits available for “scheduled” injuries.
Examples of common “unscheduled” injuries include:
- head injuries
- neck injuries
- back injuries
- lung or respiratory injuries
Understanding the difference between “scheduled” and “unscheduled” injuries is critically important. The worker’s compensation benefits available to you can vary dramatically based upon the type of injury you’ve had. Oftentimes benefits are available for “unscheduled” injuries that are not available for “scheduled” injuries. For example, if you’ve had an “unscheduled” injury, you may have a claim for benefits to compensate you for your reduced earning ability.
We have been helping injured workers obtain full compensation for many, many years. Call us if you’ve been injured to learn how we can help you.