Picking up from where we left off in Colorado Death Benefits: FAQs (Pt. 1), here, we will continue responding to common questions about Colorado death benefits.

Q – Do Colorado death benefits include additional compensation for funeral and burial expenses?

These Colorado death benefits FAQs can answer your questions about who can apply for these benefits and when. Contact us for answers and help today.

A – Yes, in many cases, people can obtain additional compensation specifically for funeral and burial expenses. In fact, the employer of the decedent may pay:

• Up to $7000 in additional compensation for funeral and burial expenses
• Any outstanding medical bills the decedent incurred trying to treat the fatal workplace injury or illness.

Q – What if there is more than one dependent? How are Colorado death benefits split up in these cases?

A – When there are multiple surviving dependents of a deceased worker, the death benefits will be divided up between the eligible dependents for the period that they are entitled to receive these benefits. Here, it’s important to note that:

• How these Colorado death benefits are divided up will be determined by the Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation or by a judge presiding over the claim
• When one dependent’s eligibility for receiving death benefits is up, that dependent will no longer receive benefit payments, and the remainder of the benefits will be distributed to the still eligible dependents.
• Partial dependents (i.e., relatives who were partially financially dependent on the decedent) can be eligible to receive a portion of the death benefits for a distinct period of time. The percentage of benefits that partial dependents are entitled to receive will depend on the degree to which they were dependent on the decedent (and this, again, will be determined by a judge or the Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation).

Q – What if the decedent did not die in a work accident but was receiving workers’ compensation benefits at the time of his death? What happens in these cases?

A – If a person dies in an accident and that accident is not at all work related, then his dependents will typically not be entitled to Colorado death benefits – unless, that is, the decedent had been receiving workers’ compensation benefits at the time of his death. When this happens, the dependent(s) may be able to receive a percentage of the benefits that were already awarded to the decedent before his death.

If you find yourself in this case, contact the Colorado workers’ compensation lawyers at the Law Office of Michael P. Dominick. Our attorneys can handle these and other specialized cases, and they know how to help people obtain the full amount of the benefits to which they are entitled.

Be sure to look for the upcoming conclusion to this blog series!

Colorado Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at the Law Office of Michael P. Dominick

Have you lost a loved one to a fatal workplace injury? If so, contact the Colorado workers’ compensation lawyers at the Law Office of Michael P. Dominick. Our legal professionals are experienced at going up against insurance companies, and we have a proven track record of success when it comes to securing our clients the maximum possible compensation for their injuries and financial losses.

For a thorough evaluation of your case, along with expert advice, call us at (303) 447-2644. You can also email us using the contact form at the top of this page. From our offices in Boulder, we represent people throughout Colorado.