Business owners have a responsibility to provide a safe workplace for their employees. Unfortunately, injuries and accidents may still happen. According to the United States Ministry of Labor statistics, millions of American workers get injured on the job every year. Today, many countries mandate companies to provide workers’ compensation for their employees. Workers’ compensation is gradually taking its place on the world stage. While compensation plans differ among different jurisdictions, workers’ compensation pays for medical treatment. This article explores all you need to know about workers’ compensation.
What is workers’ compensation?
Workers’ compensation refers to a specific amount of money that an insurance company pays to a worker who sustains a workplace injury or suffers permanent disability in the course of employment. Amongst other things, workers’ comp covers the cost of medical care and lost wages while they’re indisposed.
For example, the Queensland government enacted a workers’ compensation law to offer compensation to Queensland workers who suffer any work-related injury or disability due to their job. If you get involved in a workplace accident in Queensland, you can claim your workers’ compensation benefits through WorkCover QLD. A quick online search for “workers compensation claim QLD” offers more information on this.
How does workers’ compensation work?
Generally, workers’ compensations are backed by an insurance carrier. Employers can either buy directly or go through an insurance agent. Aside from medical care, workers’ compensation also covers disability, rehabilitation, and death benefits for workers who get injured or killed while working.
The insurer commits to pay all benefits and compensation stipulated under the relevant law. These benefits may include lost wages, rehabilitation costs, and medical care. The significant advantage of workers’ compensation is that insurance companies approve claims on a no-fault basis, as long as the worker was not working under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
How does the workers’ compensation claim process work?
Once you sustain any personal injury, you must report the incident to your employer. As a rule, submit a written report and keep a copy for future reference. Try to detail the events that led to the event. You may have to include specifics like your name, role, time, location, and witnesses. Make sure you seek professional help if you suffer any serious injury and ask your employer to make arrangements for you to get medical help.
It also helps to request a claim form and complete it as quickly as you can. Keep in mind that you’re not entitled to any compensation benefits until you complete the claim form. Furthermore, ensure the claim form gets to your employer within the stipulated time. This gives the employer ample time to file the comp claim with the insurer.
If you’re having trouble filing your comp claim, consider contacting an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. Claiming workers’ compensation can be frustrating and complicated. You might want to seek help from an experienced lawyer like Malliha Wilson to help you handle the claim process. Although Malliha is a human rights lawyer, she and her fellow business owners run a firm specializing in medical malpractice, personal injury cases, and workers’ compensation claims. Their successful career spans many years.
Born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wilson started her career in the public sector, working for the Ontario public service. She currently serves as a senior partner at the law firm Nava Wilson LLP in Toronto, Ontario, a firm that specializes in real estate law, corporate law, and commercial litigation.
Who does workers’ compensation protect?
Contrary to popular belief, workers’ compensation doesn’t protect only workers. Essentially, it’s designed to protect both employers and workers. By accepting workers’ compensation benefits, employees waive their right to sue their employer for negligence. For the most part, it helps employers mitigate large-scale negligence lawsuits that can cause significant damage to the company’s bottom line.