Workmen Compensation Insurance

By Author: John
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Workmen Compensation Insurance

Worker's Compensation also referred to as ‘Workman's Compensation' or simply ‘Worker's Comp' is the insurance that protects an injured worker at job both on-site and off-site. This is to make sure that an injured employee receives good medical care, gets his on-the- job pay uninterrupted and retraining him to become a part of the company's work force. Even when an employee has been killed, the workmen's comp gives benefits to the workers' family members.

There are also some restrictions on the Workmen Compensation Insurance law as laid by the State especially on benefits that are collected by workers that have been injured due to willful misconduct or from intoxication

There are also some special federal laws that provide extra coverage and benefits to various classes of workers:

The Jones Act- also called as the ‘Merchant Marine Act' provides protection and coverage to sailors and other sea men .These benefits are aptly called, ‘maintenance and cure' for employees that have injured themselves while working on any U.S flagged vehicles. They normally ...
... include daily wages for the injured, food and shelter.

FELA- the Federal Employment Liability Act- provides coverage and benefits to employees that have been injured as a result of railroad negligence. This could include his wages and living expenditure.

The Long shore and Harbor Worker's Act - LHWCA covers workers of certain classes for the private maritime employer who are injured in a sea travel

The Black Lung benefits Act- covers workers that have developed ‘black lung' or pneumoconiosis as a result of working in a mine.

Asbestos -related injuries : There are certain other acts that also cover employees that have been hurt by asbestos exposure in the industry

Filing lawsuit against the Employer:

An Employee that has been covered by the worker's compensation Insurance may not file a suit against the employer. There are however a few exceptions in this case. As:
An employer hurts the employee intentionally
An employer has failed to carry a worker's compensation insurance and is not doing so!

Placing a ‘Lien' on a personal injury case:

‘Lien' or a ‘subrogation ‘can be placed by the company that is covering the insurance for an injured employer. The insurer then asks for a ‘reimbursement' from a third party who is also involved in the accident. These kinds of ‘liens' are allowed in different Sates with different rules and laws. They normally cover the workers costs of lost wages, medical care and rehabilitation

Workmen Compensation Insurance