10 Things to Know About Workers’ Compensation
If you have worked anywhere long enough and know someone that has been injured while on the job, you have no doubt heard the term “workers’ compensation.” What exactly is this program and what are the important things about it that you should know as an employee? The workers’ compensation program was designed to financially assist employees that are injured while at work and cover their medical expenses.
Firstly, workers’ compensation is a right afforded to all employees that sustain workplace injuries. It is unlawful for employers to deny their workers the right to compensation and almost every state requires the company to carry insurance for such a purpose. An employee is also able to collect from the compensation program regardless of how those injuries were sustained; all that matter is that the person was hurt while either at work or otherwise on the job. That being said, there are variances in exactly how the law is handled by state, so it is important to be aware of local laws when filing a claim.
The process for filing for workers’ compensation is more or less the same across the board. Once the injury is sustained, it is important to file with the company’s human resources department and report the injury. It is also important to document all medical procedures that are untaken on the road to recovery. This is to ensure the maximum amount of benefits are granted to the injured. All forms of treatment fall under the benefits for workers’ compensation, including prescription medications, and usually the benefits should cover the entirety of medical treatment.
The last thing to remember when dealing with workers’ compensation is that you can fight your employer and insurance company if they try to deny you this right. When doing so, it is always advisable to have a skilled and experienced attorney on your side to help see justice won for you. To learn more about how we at the Franco Law Firm can serve you in this way, please call us any time at (813) 872-0929.
