Being injured on the job is a terribly unfortunate occasion which can leave you in an even worse position. Not only do you have to worry about your injury and trying to heal so that you can return to normal life, but you have to worry about what that means for your position at the company where you work.
Sadly in many cases, employers will try to discourage their employees from filing a workers’ compensation claim for a variety of reasons, and many times it works. Even if you do file a claim, your initial claim could end up being denied. There fore, if you are injured on the job, the first thing you need to do is call an experienced employee law attorney.
Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance intended to supply workers with wage replacement in the event that they are injured on the job. It also supplies workers with certain medical benefits so ensure that they receive proper medical treatment following their injury. In exchange for the wages and medical benefits, the employee waives any right that they would have to sue their employer as a result of their injury.
In general, it is not that difficult to be able to qualify for workers’ compensation insurance. The three main requirements are as follows:
- Your employer must carry workers’ compensation insurance
- You must be an employee of the company
- You must be working at the time of the injury
However, there are other things that could stand in the way of you receiving workers’ compensation benefits. For example, you will not be eligible if there are any illegal drugs or alcohol found in your system following the accident. Many employees are surprised to be confronted with a drug and alcohol test upon receiving treatment for a work-related injury, and end up losing their jobs completely when they test positive for having a substance in their system.
If you are the victim of a workplace accident, the first thing you should do is seek out a qualified attorney to ensure that you are protected every step of the way. An attorney will be able to assess your claim and your particular situation to see if you truly are entitled to receive benefits, and if so, they will fight to make sure that you receive everything that you are entitled to.