As an employee in the United States, you are more than likely entitled to workers’ compensation benefits when you are injured on the job. As you go about receiving that compensation after your injuries, there might be some questions you need answers to.
- Who Pays for Coverage?
Each state requires employers to pay for workers’ compensation. Certain employers are exempt, including those with a minimum amount of employees. Workers’ comp premiums do not come out of your paycheck, but are a part of the employer’s payroll deductions. If your employer does not offer this insurance, you should speak with your boss or contact the state’s workers’ compensation board.
- Are Any Workers Exempt?
There are certain workers in a state who might be exempt from workers’ compensation benefits. This could include:
- Independent Contractors
- Maritime Workers
- Shop Owners
- Government Workers
- Agricultural Employees
- Volunteers
- Railroad Employees
Other issues might prevent an employee from using workers’ comp benefits as well. This includes mental health issues not related to work, self-inflicted injuries, and injuries not directly related to work.
- Who Submits the Claim?
After you have been injured on the job, it’s your responsibility to report the injury to your employer. Your employer should then take the proper steps to get the workers’ compensation claim filed. Your doctor might need to submit a medical report for the employer to include with the claim, and you might also have some documents to complete and submit. Even though it’s your employer’s responsibility, you might want to follow up with him or her to ensure it gets done on time.
- Are There Deadlines Involved?
Just like any type of insurance claim, you do have some deadlines to follow after you’re injured on the job. In most cases, you have a duty to report your injury as soon as possible. If you are able to report the injury to your employer the day it happened, that is always best, but you can contact him or her in the following few days if needed. Your employer then has to follow the statute of limitations when filing the workers’ compensation claim. If it doesn’t get filed on time, the employer runs the risk of getting sued so you can get the compensation you deserve.
Contacting a Lawyer
Any time someone is injured while doing his or her job responsibly, compensation should be awarded. Contact an attorney, like a workers’ compensation attorney in Brooklyn from Polsky, Shouldice, & Rosen, P.C., if you have been injured on the job and are looking to get started with a claim.