Sickness benefit due to a workplace accident
A sickness benefit may be paid due to a workplace accident. For the first 6 weeks, the employer is obliged to pay a benefit amounting to 100% of the employee’s gross salary; from the 7th week, the health insurance fund assumes responsibility for the payment. The benefit is then reduced to 80% of the salary. The right to sickness benefit applies for 78 weeks, and receiving it does not exclude the possibility of pursuing other claims, as follows directly from the German Social Code.
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Reimbursement of incurred costs
Following workplace accidents, it is often necessary to pay for private medical appointments, purchase medication or use other services. These costs may be reimbursed. The easiest route is to use the employer’s third-party liability insurance, but this requires the accident to have been caused by the fault of the employer or another co-worker. The employer will also not be particularly eager to cooperate, since the insurance company will increase the premium. If the company has not taken out such insurance, claims may be pursued through the courts.
Insurance payments
Many employees are covered by accident insurance, which provides access to additional funds from the insurance company if workplace accidents have caused health impairment. Accident insurance is claimed upon application, and payment of the benefit may be preceded by an interview about the circumstances of the incident or a medical examination by a panel. The social insurance system protects itself against fraud in this way, but for the employee this creates additional difficulties. The provisions of the German Labour Code impose an obligation on the employer to pay accident insurance contributions; however, obtaining the benefit is not always as easy as it should be.
Disability benefits
As a rule, a disability benefit is not closely linked to a workplace accident; naturally, it is available only to people who have paid the relevant contributions. A disability pension is not granted merely for having suffered a workplace accident, but if the resulting injury makes it impossible to work in a particular occupation, then after 78 weeks of sickness benefit one may apply for a disability benefit, enclosing all documentation, including documents relating to the workplace accident.
Benefits to which you are entitled!
German law may not provide for benefits to be granted automatically, but practically every employee is protected, albeit to varying degrees. We can help prepare the documentation, obtain compensation for a workplace accident and pursue other claims related to accidents. We have extensive experience in this area—we will identify the benefits to which you are entitled and what needs to be done to receive them. With us, you will be fully protected.