Workers Compensation

Workers compensation is designed to help people who're injured on the job. It compensates them for money that they've lost when their injury stops them from working. It can also compensate them if they're injured because of something negligent that their employer did, or something that employer was supposed to correct or warn about but did not. How it works and what it can do for you are both very important issues that all employees should understand.

Who Qualifies For Workers Compensation?

In order to qualify for workers compensation, you need to be working for someone else. A self-employed writer who gets carpal tunnel, for example, wouldn't be eligible for workers compensation. It's a type of insurance, and it has to be paid by the employer. The regulations on who has to provide workers compensation insurance to employees can vary based on the size of the business and what type of company it is. Not every company is obligated to provide it, and some are only obligated to provide it to certain employees - such as full-time and not part-time workers. If you aren't sure about qualifying, talk to your employer to get answers.

Do You Need A Lawyer?

Even though most on-the-job injuries are covered by workers compensation provided the employer is required to have coverage, that doesn't mean that the employer wants to pay the employee for injuries. This can get very expensive, so it's understandable that an employer would try to avoid paying. However, it's also unfair to the injured employee. If you've been injured on the job and your employer won't pay, you may need to get a lawyer to help you. You won't necessarily have to sue your employer, though, because getting a lawyer involved may be enough to have the employer do what's right. The fear of being sued might be sufficient to get things moving. If it's not, you can always decide whether you want to proceed with a lawsuit.

What To Expect From A Compensation Claim

When filing a compensation claim, you shouldn't expect to get rich. What you should expect is fairness, financially speaking, for the loss that you've suffered. If you can't work, you should receive an amount comparable to the amount you were making. You also shouldn't be fired or mistreated for filing a compensation claim, so don't assume that filing a claim will cause problems. If it does, you may have to get a lawyer involved to protect your rights.

Workers compensation insurance is designed to protect your rights if you're injured on the job, so don't live in fear of filing a claim if it's really necessary. Be respectful and only bring the court system into it if necessary, but don't give up on your rights if things get difficult. You're entitled to that compensation.