As a business owner, keeping informed about the finer points of employment law is important. If you're getting ready to hire your first employees, you need to be sure that you understand exactly what you can and cannot do. Don't risk getting yourself into legal trouble by asking the wrong question at the interview or making an off-hand comment that's considered legally unacceptable. I created this site to give you the basics of employment law expectations. I hope that the information here helps you to understand what you should and shouldn't do as you're interviewing and hiring your first staff members.
-
What Does an IRS Tax Problems Attorney Do? 16 January 2024
-
The Role of a Family Lawyer: When and Why You Might Need One 15 November 2023
-
The Indispensable Role of a Probate Attorney 3 October 2023
Employer Fundamentals: Understanding Employment Law
What You Need To Know About Workers' Compensation
Irene Robertson
No matter what type of job you have, the possibility of getting injured is always there. Whether you work among hazardous chemicals or in an office, you can get hurt in a variety of ways. If you are hurt at work, you can qualify for workers' compensation coverage. The following are some things you should know.
What Is Covered with Workers' Compensation?
One question you may have is what you will get with workers' compensation. All cases are different, and they depend on the accident and injury types. The time you have to take off from work is also a consideration.
Once your claim is validated by your human resources department, you will get payments for your medical care, whether it is a simple visit to the doctor or emergency room and hospital expenses. You can also be paid for your lost wages. In addition, if your injury causes you permanent disability to the point you can no longer work, you can receive monthly payments to help cover your financial obligations.
Does It Matter Who Caused the Accident?
Workers' compensation insurance covers any accident that occurred at work, even if you caused it yourself. In some states, there are some rules about injuries that you caused yourself. You may have to prove you did not intentionally hurt yourself to get benefits fraudulently.
Do You Also Get Pain and Suffering?
You also may be wondering if you can get money for your pain and suffering. The insurance, however, does not provide payments for this purpose. It simply pays for any of your out-of-pocket expenses as well as lost wages.
The point of workers' compensation insurance is to prevent employees from suing their employers when they get hurt. If you want to pursue pain and suffering damages, you have to file a personal injury lawsuit against your employer. However, you cannot not receive workers' compensation benefits as well. You will have to choose which option you want to pursue. Filing a lawsuit against your attorney can be risky, and it can take some time for you to receive a payment, if at all.
If you feel as though workers' compensation benefits are not going to cover your financial needs and you want to pursue a personal injury lawsuit, be sure to discuss it with your workers' compensation attorney. Your attorney will evaluate your evidence and determine whether or not you have a solid case against your employer.
Share