Workers’ compensation is an insurance system under which employers and their employees are both protected. Employees that are injured on the job or develop and illness or condition related to their work or workplace environment are eligible for wage replacement and benefits. In exchange for the workers’ compensation benefits,the employees waive their rights to sue their employer for any injuries that occur from work. The employers are protected as their employees cannot bring large-scale lawsuits against the employer that could bankrupt the individual or company. This dual protection is why workers compensation is important.
Workplace Injuries
If an employee is injured on the job and is unable to work,that can cause huge issues for the employee that no longer has a wage and also has to pay for treatment bills,hospital stays,and potential physical therapy costs.
Some of the most common workplace injuries involve slip and falls,body parts caught in machinery,accidents caused by falling equipment,etc (according to law firm ). If a person sustains an injury at work and that injury is severe enough to prevent them from returning for work,filing a workers’ compensation claim can help the individual by replacing their wages and covering injury-related costs so they are not paying out of pocket.
Permanent Injuries,Illnesses,or Conditions
When it comes to permanent injuries that make a person unable to continue their work permanently,that is where applying for Social Security disability comes in. Once the workers’ compensation benefits expire,the individual will still need a form of income to live on.
When it comes to permanent injuries,illnesses,or conditions,in order to receive workers’ comp benefits,it needs to be proven that they are not related to a preexisting condition and that they have truly affected the individual’s ability to return to work and sustain gainful employment. If you run into problems filing your work comp claim,be sure to contact a good work comp law firm as soon as you’re able.