When you get hurt on the job, you may qualify for workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation insurance is paid for by employers in order to protect their employees in the case of an injury on the job.
Workers’ compensation, which may also be called workman’s compensation, is state-mandated. That means that your employer is likely required to obtain and maintain workers’ compensation insurance for your workplace. There are a few exceptions, but on the whole, this is a requirement of most workplaces.
Federal workers go through their own workers’ compensation insurance program, and each state has its own workers’ compensation program. For specific information on your policy, you can view your State Workers’ Compensation page, which is maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor.
What is the main benefit of workers’ compensation?
The benefit of workers’ compensation is that the compensation covers the majority of injuries no matter how they occurred. Did you trip, slip or fall? Did you make a mistake that led to your injury? In either case, you should be eligible to obtain workers’ compensation.
Sometimes, workers’ compensation doesn’t cover an accident because the employee was negligent or intentionally harmful to himself or others. For instance, if an employee is drunk on the job and gets hurt, the workers’ compensation provider may refuse to pay for any injuries that were caused to that employee. On the other hand, if someone is hurt because of that employee, the individual who suffered an injury should be able to receive compensation. If you’re hurt, file a claim as soon as possible.
Source: FindLaw, “Workers’ Comp Benefits Explained,” accessed Nov. 20, 2017
