Workers’ compensation insurance provides benefits to employees who’ve been injured or developed an illness on the job. Workers’ compensation may provide employees with wage loss benefits, medical care, legal fees and death benefits. Many employees have applied for workers’ compensation after experiencing a slip-and-fall, toxin exposure, carpal tunnel, car accident or co-worker negligence.
Workers’ compensation is in place to protect employees after suffering from catastrophic events. Workers’ compensation also provides many hidden benefits. Here’s what you should know:
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Employees can eventually return to work
It’s hard to imagine that, without insurance, a serious injury such as a broken bone, concussion or herniated disk could put you out of work indefinitely. Workers’ compensation insurance may give employees time to recover from their injuries. Employees who have time to heal may have a higher chance of returning to work.
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Employees can avoid debt
A medical emergency could net employees with tons of debt. This debt can be hard to pay off when someone is recovering from their injuries and unable to work. Their injuries may even cause lasting medical conditions that prevent them from returning to work or looking for a new job.
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Workers’ compensation strengthens employee safety
Every job has its dangers and many of these are detailed in safety guidelines – but, not every danger is outlined or known. Employees who apply for workers’ compensation may be able to provide new work safety regulations after suffering from their injuries. This may prevent coworkers from suffering from similar injuries.
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Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system
Many workers fear that their injuries aren’t enough or have probable cause to grant them compensation – this may not be true. It may not matter how an employee was injured or who caused the injuries because workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. In other words, a worker’s injuries are covered without questioning if it was caused by their negligence or a co-worker.
When dealing with on-site injuries, you may need to know your options when fighting for your workers’ compensation.