"Workers' compensation" refers to a system of laws outlining specific benefits to which injured employees are entitled, and the procedures for obtaining such benefits. Every state has its own workers' compensation laws, which are contained in statutes and vary somewhat from state to state. In addition, there are special workers' compensation laws for employees of the federal government, and still others for workers in specific types of industries such as railroad employees.
Under the law in most states, every business must have some form of workers' compensation insurance to cover injured employees. Filing a workers' compensation claim is similar to filing an insurance claim; it isn't a lawsuit against an employer, but rather a request for benefits.
The Purpose and Effect of Workers' Compensation Laws
Workers' compensation laws are designed to ensure that employees who are injured on the job receive fixed monetary awards, without having to litigate their claims against their employers. In this way, workers' compensation is an important safety net for employees when they are injured on the job, or as a result of their job.
Most workers' compensation laws also provide employers and co-workers with a certain level of protection, by limiting the amount employees can recover from their employers, and prohibiting (in most cases) injured employees from suing their co-workers. In essence, workers' compensation is a no-fault system where an injured worker's own negligence (or the negligence of his or her employer or co-workers) is not put at issue; rather, the injured employee is simply covered for his or her work-related injuries.
Thus, workers' compensation is an injured worker's "exclusive remedy" with respect to a work-related injury, unless he or she can point to a third party who contributed to his or her injuries. For example, because workers are often injured by products or machinery they use at work, they may, and often do, seek compensation from the manufacturers of such products.
Third-Party Claims: Employers May Recoup Payment
Employers are generally not directly involved in the third-party claims of their employees, and such claims take place in civil actions, rather than in the workers' compensation system. In most cases, however, an employer can recoup its workers' compensation payments and obligations from the recovery an injured worker obtains from a lawsuit against a third party. In some states, the workers' compensation insurer and employer may enter into the lawsuit commenced by the employee and seek to protect their rights to recover the sums.
In other states, the employer is given a lien against the employee's recovery. In those states, the employer and insurer must wait until the employee has made a recovery, at which point they assert the lien and the employee must then pay back monies which duplicate workers' compensation benefits previously received or receivable.
Workers' Compensation Benefit Claims vs. Civil Lawsuits
Workers' compensation is usually considered a substitute for a lawsuit by an employee against his or her employer. In exchange for not suing the employer in court, employees are entitled to workers' compensation benefits, regardless of who was at fault for the accident or injuries. Most employees are automatically entitled to workers' compensation, but at the same time, the employer is automatically protected from most employee lawsuits.
Types of Injuries Covered by Workers' Compensation
For a work-related injury, an employee may be eligible for compensation for any of the injuries listed below:
Injuries Not Covered
There are some injuries, however, that may not be covered by workers' compensation. State courts are divided on whether an employee can recover for an injury sustained during horseplay at work. Many states will not award benefits to a person who is injured while intoxicated or who deliberately inflicts injury on himself. Furthermore, an employee who is injured while traveling to or from work is not generally entitled to benefits unless the employer has agreed to provide the worker with the means of transportation, pay the employee's cost of commuting, or if travel is required while performing his/her duties.
If a worker leaves the employer's premises to do a personal errand and is injured, he or she might not be entitled to workers' compensation benefits. However, if an employee is injured while returning from company-sponsored education classes, or goes to the restroom, visits the cafeteria, has a coffee break, or steps out of a nonsmoking office to smoke a cigarette, and is injured, workers' compensation boards and courts typically recognize that employers benefit from these "nonbusiness" employee conveniences, and often award compensation.
The Scope of Workers' Compensation Coverage
Workers' compensation coverage varies by state, and by occupation. For example, some states exempt certain categories of workers, such as agricultural employees, domestic employees and independent contractors, from their workers' compensation systems. Other states require coverage only if an employer employs a minimum number of employees.
Hire an Attorney for Workers' Compensation Coverage Issues
To determine whether your employees are entitled to workers' compensation benefits, you should contact an experienced business and commercial law attorney in your area. Also, keep in mind that if your employees are not covered by workers' compensation, they may be able to bring a civil claim against you and/or your business.
