A workplace injury in Nevada triggers a system of benefits that most employees never have to think about until they need them. The state’s workers’ compensation program, governed by the Nevada Industrial Insurance Act (NIIA), offers far more than a basic paycheck while you heal. Depending on the severity of your injury and your ability to return to work, you may qualify for compensation to help pay for your medical care, lost income, and even vocational retraining if you are unable to return to the same position.
Medical Treatment Coverage for Injured Workers
Your employer’s insurer pays for all medically necessary treatment tied to your work injury. That covers doctor visits, hospital stays, surgery, physical therapy, prescriptions, and equipment like braces or mobility aids. Specialty care, such as orthopedics, neurology, pain management, and rehabilitation, is also included when authorized.
Temporary Disability Benefits
If your injury keeps you off work, you are eligible to collect temporary total disability at two-thirds of your average monthly wage, divided by 30. If you can return to work in a reduced capacity and earn less as a result, temporary partial disability pays two-thirds of the difference between your pre-injury and post-injury daily wages. These payments stop when your doctor clears you to resume full duties or determines that you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI).
Permanent Disability Benefits
Some injuries leave you with lasting consequences. Once you reach MMI, a physician will rate your disability and assign an impairment percentage based on the severity. You will then multiply that percentage by a number of weeks defined in the NIIA schedule to receive a permanent partial disability award. You will receive these benefits every month for a minimum of five years or until you turn 70, whichever is longer.
If your disability prevents you from seeking any gainful employment, you qualify for permanent total disability benefits, which you will receive for life. These benefits are calculated at roughly two-thirds of your average monthly wage.
Vocational Rehabilitation and Retraining
If you cannot return to your previous job, you are entitled to vocational rehabilitation. The program funds skills assessments, classroom training, career counseling, and job placement services. Skipping the assessment or refusing a retraining plan can jeopardize your benefits and limit your future earnings, so it is important to use these services.
Death Benefits for Surviving Family Members
Sometimes, a workplace accident is fatal. When a worker dies from a job-related injury, surviving dependents receive weekly payments equal to two-thirds of the deceased worker’s average wage, distributed by statute among the spouse and children. Funeral and burial expenses are also covered up to $10,000.
Speak with a Las Vegas Workers’ Comp Attorney
Although you are entitled to benefits after a workplace accident, insurers do not usually volunteer the maximum benefit you qualify for. They process claims to close them efficiently, which often means that the first settlement falls far below what your injury is actually worth.
An injury attorney in Vegas can challenge that offer and push back on every weak point in the insurer’s decision. They will review your impairment rating for accuracy, audit your wage calculations against your real earnings, and represent you at hearings before the Department of Administration if your claim is disputed. Before you accept a rating or sign a release, contact a Las Vegas workers’ compensation attorney to make sure every benefit has been calculated correctly and fought for in full.