Workers Compensation Insurance 101

Workers Compensation laws provide benefits to employees who are injured while on the job or come down with an illness that is job related. The benefits usually include payment of medical bills relating to a job related incident plus an ongoing income to replace lost wages and reimbursement for expenses.

Workers Compensation laws also provide benefits for dependents of workers who are killed because of work-related accidents or illnesses.

With Workers Compensation, it doesn't matter who caused the incident - the employer, the employee, a fellow employee, a machine, or even a third person (such as in an accident when the employee was using a vehicle for work.)

Some laws limit the amount an injured employee can recover from an employer and eliminate the liability of co-workers in most accidents.

In some states, workers compensation benefits are cut if you also collect money from Social Security or from your own pension.
 
Every state has a Workers Compensation law. There are also federal laws covering employees of the federal government and seamen.

Claims are started by filing a form on a timely basis. If an employer contests the claim, it is advisable to at least speak with an expert, preferably an experienced attorney. Lawyers usually represent clients in Workers Compensation cases on a contingency basis.