How Schedule Member Injuries Are Paid in Nebraska

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When an injured worker has reached a point of maximum medical improvement – when healing has plateaued – that worker may be entitled to permanent disability benefits.

If the injury sustained is not an injury to the truck of the body (head, neck, back, internal organs, etc.), it is considered a “scheduled member” injury in Nebraska. Compensation for these scheduled member injuries are paid based on the level of disability to that member. Then, the Nebraska workers’ compensation laws prescribe a certain number of weeks of benefits depending on which body part has sustained the permanent disability.

The benefits are paid at 2/3 of the worker’s average weekly wage, for whatever percentage of disability is assigned. For example, a 10 percent impairment to a shoulder in Nebraska is paid at 2/3 of the average weekly wage for 22.5 weeks. This is based upon the chart below where a shoulder is worth a total of 225 weeks (i.e. 225 x 10% = 22.5 weeks). See the chart below to see how other body parts are paid in Nebraska:  Source: Nebraska Revised Statute § 48-121

Body Part Number of Weeks
Thumb 60
Index Finger 35
Second(Middle) Finger 30
Third (Ring) Finger  20
Fourth (Little) Finger 15
Amputation at First Phalange (half weeks for that finger)
Amputation ½ of First Phalange (quarter weeks for that finger)
Big Toe 30
Any Other Toe 10
Hand (below elbow joint) 175
Arm (at or above elbow) 225
Foot (below knee) 150
Leg (at or above knee) 215
Loss of Eye or Reduction of sight to 1/5 normal 125
Hearing Loss (one ear) 50

Generally, any body part not listed above (head, neck, or back, as examples) would be considered and injury to the “body as a whole” and is paid differently.

The offices of Rehm, Bennett, Moore & Rehm, which also sponsors the Trucker Lawyers website, are located in Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska. Five attorneys represent plaintiffs in workers’ compensation, personal injury, employment and Social Security disability claims. The firm’s lawyers have combined experience of more than 95 years of practice representing injured workers and truck drivers in Nebraska, Iowa and other states with Nebraska and Iowa jurisdiction. The lawyers regularly represent hurt truck drivers and often sue Crete Carrier Corporation, K&B Trucking, Werner Enterprises, UPS, and FedEx. Lawyers in the firm hold licenses in Nebraska and Iowa and are active in groups such as the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers, Workers' Injury Law & Advocacy Group (WILG), American Association for Justice (AAJ), the Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys (NATA), and the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). We have the knowledge, experience and toughness to win rightful compensation for people who have been injured or mistreated.

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One thought on “How Schedule Member Injuries Are Paid in Nebraska

  1. Pingback: Why disability means different things in workers’ compensation and social security - Workers' Compensation Watch

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