When people have the poor misfortune of losing a body part during a workplace accident, they may be surprised to find out that the price paid to people who lose an extremity varies drastically depending on what state in which they reside. Maryland pays a significant amount more for a lost body part than a number of other states in the nation. Alabama, on the other hand, is one of the lowest paying states. The rate of pay for lost body parts is contingent upon the schedule of benefits listed for that specific state. These differences in workers’ compensation benefits have employees and employers alike arguing that a body part should be worth the same amount regardless of where it was lost.
According to ProPublica.org, some state’s workers’ compensation dismemberment regulations are set based off of political bargains rather than research and analysis. For example, a worker who loses an arm in Maryland may be paid up to $301,600 in benefits, which is well above the national average of $169,878. An employee who loses an arm in Utah is only allowed up to $98,549 in benefits. People who lose an eye in Maryland are eligible for $251,802 in benefits, while an eye in Alabama is worth $27,280.
When employees lose an arm, leg, finger or eye, their ability to work and earn a living decrease significantly. Many rely on their workers’ compensation benefits to make ends meet and provide for their families because they are no longer able to work. These benefits can help families pay their bills and replace lost wages from work.