Workers Compensation
Workers compensation is an essential part of any business, especially those that involve a lot of manual labor or dangerous work conditions. Workers compensation is what covers employees for any expenses related to an injury that happened on the job. As an employee, you should check to make sure your employer has compensation insurance to cover you in the event of an accident. If they don’t, you may not be able to make a claim to cover your medical expenses, ongoing care costs, lost wages, or other expenses related to the injury. Here’s everything you need to know about workers compensation insurance.
It Depends on Your Employer
You are not automatically guaranteed workers compensation when you accept a job. Whether you have coverage usually depends on your employer. It is the employer’s responsibility to invest in this insurance coverage. The incentive for employers to get insurance is simple: Any employer with workers compensation insurance cannot be sued by an employee who gets injured at work. Basically, workers compensation voids fault in the matter and makes sure that all parties, the employer and the employee, are taken care of. Despite the benefits, not all employers opt for this choice.
State Laws Matter
State laws play a role in your employer’s choice to get insurance. Some states legally mandate that all businesses with employees must have workers comp. Others have workers compensation laws with wiggle room, as they may only require a business with ten or more employees to get insurance. Check with your employer about their specific workers compensation policies to see what benefits you have. If you need some extra help with workers compensation questions or a workers comp case, then a workers compensation lawyer from a firm like The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt may be of help to you.
Choose Your Employer Wisely
Not all employers have workers compensation insurance. Some may not invest in it because they legally are not obligated, and this can tell you a lot about a company. Check your state laws to see if a business should have insurance before taking the job. If a company is disregarding state laws and illegally not investing in insurance, that may tell you a lot about the integrity of the place, and you may want to look elsewhere for employment. Companies that provide insurance show that they care about the welfare of their employees.