Could you imagine getting hurt on your job and the only thing you could do was to sue your employer in order to prove that they were at fault for your workplace injury? That is how it used to be in the early 1900’s. Back then if someone got injured at work, they usually just had to deal with lost wages, finding another job, or living with a permanent disability. This was because people had to prove that the injury was due to an unsafe work environment and to do that you had to go to court. Most workers could not afford the costs associated with suing their employer.
Workers’ compensation laws protect people who are injured on the job. They are designed to ensure that employees who are injured or disabled on the job are provided with fixed monetary awards. Employees are unable to sue their employer when this kind of insurance is provided. These laws also provide benefits for dependents of those workers who are killed because of work-related accidents or illnesses. Workers’ compensation, also known as workmans’ comp, is a state-mandated insurance program that provides compensation to employees who suffer job-related injuries and illnesses.
Some of the benefits of workers’ compensation are as follows:
- Payment of your hospital and medical expenses that are necessary to diagnose and treat your work-related injury
- Provision of disability payments while unable to work
- Rehabilitation and/or retraining
Some laws also protect employers and fellow workers by limiting the amount an injured employee can recover from an employer and by eliminating the liability of co-workers in most accidents. State statutes establish this framework for most employment. Federal statutes are limited to federal employees or those workers employed in some significant aspect of interstate commerce.
Wynn & Wynn, P.C. has experienced, knowledgeable attorneys who can answer your questions in regards to workers’ compensation. It’s especially important to have an attorney who will stand up for you when you can’t. Contact us today at 1-800-852-5211 to learn more about our worker’s compensation services.
