What do you really know about workers’ compensation rights? You may have heard, for example, that workers’ compensation is a social insurance. This is correct. Because the insurance is based on a contract entered into by both the employer (management) and the employee (labor). The thing is, that beyond this point, each state may have its own rules on not only how workers’ compensation is defined, but on how it works – that’s why if you have been injured on the job under specific circumstances such as motorcycle accident, you may wish to find a motorcycle accident lawyer from Savannah, for example, for further information.
Now, let’s look into some of the broader strokes of workers’ compensation insurance, to develop your understanding of what you could be entering into should you choose to take this route.
What is workers’ compensation insurance?
In the most basic terms, workers’ compensation insurance is a type of insurance provided by the employer that offers joint benefits to both employer and the employee – the employer receives a form of protection against civil suits being brought by employees who have been injured on the job, and the employee receives the stated support outlined in the insurance contract without delay (i.e. without having to go through the courts to secure access to support/funds).
With very few state exceptions, failure to provide workers who are not owners of the business with workers’ compensation insurance can lead to severe repercussions for the company. For example, where this type of insurance is not provided, companies may face fines and company owners can even face imprisonment – not to mention the out of pocket payout that will be required to provide the employee with the financial support required following their injury on the job.
What does workers’ compensation insurance cover?
Workers’ compensation insurance may cover all or some of the costs associated with a workplace injury – employees are encouraged to read the details of their workers’ compensation insurance scheme for full details on exactly what is covered. However, as an outline of what you can expect to be covered by the insurance, here are some examples of the types of support you may receive.
Workers’ compensation insurance may include:
- Lost income
- Initial and ongoing medical expenses
- Ongoing costs of care and rehabilitation
Again, the exact details of your workers’ compensation insurance may differ from employer to employer and from state to state – employees must look into the policies to fully understand their coverage.
A note on supporting evidence…
If you are injured at work in an accident that was not your fault (or if more could have reasonably been done by your employer to prevent the accident), you may be able to claim. Your claim will be based on supporting medical evidence, because you can only claim for the rightful support in relation to the extent of your injuries.
This means that you must visit a doctor as soon as possible after your injury, so that accurate medical details of your condition can be kept and later used in support of your claim.