How Does Worker’s Compensation Function in the US?

The workers compensation program in America was designed in order to financially help employees that have been injured while on the job. The idea was that, under this program, the all medical expenses related to the treatment of said injury would be covered by the employing company of the insurance provider of that company. Although the exact nature of worker’s compensation does vary from state to state, one thing is a constant throughout the country: worker’s compensation is a right granted to any employee and failing to provide it is illegal.

Every worker’s compensation case begins with the same event: a workplace injury. As soon as possible after the injury is sustained, the employee should report it to the appropriate department of his or her company. After that, the company will most likely pass on the report to their insurance carrier. Sometimes a company can self-insure itself, but this is more so an exception than a regular occurrence. Either way, the insurance provider will then be in touch with the injured employee to understand the full scope of the medical treatment and how much will be required to cover it.

Under normal circumstances, the process ends here, with the insurance company covering medical expenses and the injured employee focusing on recovery. That being said, there are often times when an employer or an insurance company will attempt to circumvent the system and refuse to pay worker’s compensation. Remember that this is not legal and, if this happens to you, you have it fully within your rights to file a lawsuit to receive the benefits that you need and deserve.

When going through a worker’s compensation lawsuit, it is always a good idea to have a skilled and experienced attorney on your side to ensure that your case is won while you focus on recovery. To learn more about how we at the Franco Law Firm can serve you in this role and to schedule a free consultation with us today, please call us at (813) 872-0929.