Get Covered By Workers’ Compensation Insurance
In the United States, at least ten people die each day from workplace injuries. These fatalities often have enormous financial and emotional repercussions for the injured person, their family, and their work colleagues.
Just about every job carries some risk of injury - from carpal tunnel syndrome (a common affliction for computer users) to more serious injuries such as lacerations or amputation due to hand tools or power-sharpeners - and it’s important for employees to know that they’re protected by Workers' Compensation insurance in any event.
In the United States, each state has its own specific laws that govern which types of injuries are compensable and how much you'll be paid to cover your loss.
In California, for example, there are nine primary types of injuries. All of them can be expensive to fix - from broken bones and torn ligaments to severed limbs - and all of them can lead to a loss of income if they prevent you from returning to work.
Personal Injury Protection would keep the costs down My experience in the insurance business assures me that an individual cannot simply buy Fire and Theft insurance – or any other type of general liability policy – for that matter, because it doesn't meet their needs. It's best to have a third party take care of that kind of thing - just like you'd want your car dealer to fill your gas tank and check your oil for free on your next oil change.
Comparable to a two-car family's $400 Fire and Theft policy, Workers' Compensation Insurance is for people who work for third-party employers. The only way an individual can get this protection is through their employer or the organization they work for - like a restaurant or club. That makes it very different from Health Insurance, which you can purchase on your own.
For most organizations, Workers' Compensation insurance isn’t something to think about until an injury occurs – until that moment when you’re in the hospital and thinking about how you're going to pay for your medical bills, your time off from work, and everything that comes with a serious workplace injury. Your employer may not think about Workers' Compensation insurance until you’re in the hospital. But it's something they should consider very seriously.
Picture this – you get off of a twelve hour shift and walk to your car, only to have your left hand run over by an idling truck. You haven't done anything wrong – you weren't in any danger of being hit, and the trucker is completely at fault for the accident. How are you going to pay for that?
Some employers will pay for some or all of your medical bills, depending on what kind of coverage they have offered their employees; others will not offer their employees comparable benefits since most are considered "self-insured.” That means that your employer will pay the costs out of his or her pocket.
And once you get home, maybe you have some bills to pay. Maybe you have a mortgage to make payments on. Maybe you have car payments that you can't afford to miss a payment on.
With Workers' Compensation Insurance, an employer can buy an inexpensive policy (as low as $40/month/employee) that will pay for everything associated with a work-related injury - no matter who is at fault or where the accident occurred – and will also help with any sick leave that may be needed if your injuries are severe enough for time off from work.
As a business owner, whether you’re a sole-proprietor or a large corporation, you never know what can happen on your property. It’s best to buy a workers’ compensation policy for your employees to ensure the safety of everyone who works for you.
Some employers won't purchase Workers' Compensation Insurance for their employees and some will provide coverage that doesn't meet the California State requirements. For instance, an employer might offer health insurance but no Workers' Compensation Insurance leaving you with no protection whatsoever in the event of an injury on the job.
Understanding Workers' Compensation Insurance is vital
Because everyone knows that the risk of injury is something every employee should be aware of, they have an expectation that their work environment will be safe. It's important to understand that there are certain levels of injuries from which you are not compensable. If you're injured on the job, or if your employer has a property insurance policy with sufficient amounts of coverage, then you're protected by your Employer’s Insurance.
The terms and conditions of this policy can be found online at: http://www.insurancehelpguide.org/Workers%20Compensation.html
If you work for someone else, make sure you understand your rights and that you're getting the protection that's rightfully yours. If your employer doesn't have Workers' Compensation Insurance, he or she has violated the law (California Labor Code § 3600.) It is important to know that if your employer does not carry Workers' Compensation Insurance or comparable compensation coverage, then he or she isn't fulfilling any obligation to their employees.
If you're injured on the job, then your Employer’s Insurance should pay for all of your medical bills and any lost wages - but only if they're carrying a policy with enough coverage to handle all accident-related costs.
Although you may not think about Workers' Compensation Insurance until you've been injured, it's important to know that some employers don't take this step. Know your rights!
If you're unsure of your Employer’s Insurance coverage, just ask. If the answer is “no”, then Investigate further and ask if your employer has had a Workers' Compensation Insurance policy for long enough to protect his or her employees in the event of an injury. It's also very important that your employer carries a policy with enough coverage to make up for lost wages and other unexpected expenses required when dealing with an accident on the job.
Conclusion
When you are in the workforce, you are always at risk for injury – so it is important to be insured against such injuries. If your employer refuses to provide workers' compensation insurance, it is a potential violation of law that will cause you financial and physical damage. To avoid this situation, always ask questions when your employer does not have Workers' Compensation Insurance.
Since everyone knows that there is a risk of injury on the job, if you don't have Workers' Compensation Insurance and require time off from work because of an injury you will have to pay for all medical bills yourself. This can put your finances in jeopardy and may cause physical harm if treatment isn't taken quickly enough due to lack of funds.