Accidents on the Job: Do You Qualify for Workers Compensation?

Getting hurt on the job can have a significant effect on employees, employers, and their businesses. Furthermore, the risks of getting injured at work continue to grow as the technology and equipment we use become more sophisticated. 

It can result in injuries becoming more prevalent, which can impact you physically, mentally, and financially. It also means that your employer may be forced to pay for your medical bills and compensate you for the loss of wages. Due to this, qualifying for workers’ compensation is seen as the best way to aid employees who sustain serious injury or illness while working. 

What is Workers Compensation? 

The workers’ compensation system, also known as workers’ comp, provides wage replacement to employees hurt at work. However, in some cases, it also mandates that they relinquish their right to sue the company in exchange for the benefits provided. Many companies provide workers with this type of insurance policy. 

How Does Workers Compensation Work?

Workers’ compensation has developed over time due to changing factors within our growing workspace. It works by covering medical fees, as long as it is under an injury sustained while working. Workers’ compensation also covers sick pay while an employee is on medical leave, and if an employee dies, it can provide financial support to their family. 

What are the Benefits of Workers’ Compensation? 

Workers’ compensation’s major benefits are wage benefits, medical coverage and benefits, and support. This can include disability benefits depending on your circumstances, vocational rehabilitation, and death benefits. 

Examples of Accidents that Can Happen While Working

It’s essential that you are aware of what can happen, especially if you work on a job site or restaurant, and what may be covered by your worker’s compensation. While there are many types of accidents that can affect you at work, some of the most common are: 

  • Slip, trips, and falls: The leading causes of fall injuries are failure to use equipment correctly (including poor footing), having unprotected, slippery, or poorly designed surfaces around the work area. Lack of handrails or other safety supports or signs can contribute to slip and fall injuries. 
  • Heavy lifting: One of the main culprits for heavy lifting injuries is due to equipment limitations, fatigue, and lack of proper manual handling training. Due to this, heavy lifting injuries could result in an inability to work due to back pain, joint pain, and other injuries. 
  • Hit by a moving object: The most common sources of risk are objects rolling, falling, or moving towards workers. These can be caused by construction workers walking on scaffolding, forklift operators loading heavy objects onto trucks, or people pushing heavy carts in a store. This could result in serious head injuries, broken dones, and in some cases, death. 

Whom Should You Contact About Getting Workers Compensation?

Workers’ compensation coverage may be available through your employer, but it also may be provided through government programs such as Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare, or workers’ compensation laws in some states. You can also contact legal services that specialize in making claims for workers’ compensation and work-related injuries.