Workers’ Compensation is insurance which guarantees that workers who are injured on the job will receive medical care and payment for time lost due to injury. You don’t have to be a factory worker or laborer to be involved in an accident at work. There are numerous ways that one can be injured.
You could step on a ladder and fall while changing a light bulb in the office or you might even slip on a wet spot on the floor of the office kitchen. Exposure to hazardous materials is high for hospital employees. Furthermore, laborers, office workers and hospital employees alike can at times work in buildings that are undergoing remodeling, which places them at greater risk for a workplace injury.
Surprising Facts about Workers Compensation
Because every type of employee is at risk for an on-the-job injury, there are a few things you should know about workers’ compensation. First, being injured on the job can lead to lawsuits, therefore many employers offer compensation with no questions asked. Additionally, the rules for workers’ compensation differ from state to state. It’s important for you to become aware of the laws of the state where you are employed. Information about your rights to workers’ compensation should be posted at your workplace.
One surprising fact is that not all employers are required to provide workers’ compensation. In various states, companies are not required to offer compensation unless they employ a certain number of people. This number is usually small––typically around five employees. Normally employees of a large corporation have nothing to worry about where workers’ compensation is concerned. Again, small businesses that employ just a few people may not offer compensation because they are not required to do so.
Another pertinent fact that most people do not know about workers compensation is that the employee is not required to prove that the employer was responsible for the injury. Workers’ compensation laws have been specifically written to exclude fault in order to make it easier for workers to receive medical treatment and compensation. Even though an employee is not required to prove that the employer is at fault, he must go to a doctor or medical facility of the employer’s choice. If for some reason you refuse to see the selected doctor or medical facility, doing so could result in losing your workers’ compensation case. If you are injured at work and want to see your own doctor, be prepared to pay for the visit and any treatment or tests needed.
Getting the Compensation You Deserve
To make sure you get the compensation you deserve, there are certain things you will need to do. Since filing for Workers’ Compensation can be somewhat daunting, an experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help. At the Law Office of John Snyder we can help ensure that your workers’ compensation claim has been properly completed for your case.
