Workers’ compensation, often known as workman’s compensation, is insurance purchased by employers to cover the expenses of work-related diseases and accidents. Most jurisdictions require companies to have workers’ compensation insurance, but each state has its own set of requirements. Despite the workers’ compensation system being complicated, California is known to have one of the most worker-friendly workers’ compensation laws in the country.
Did you realize that workers’ compensation covers a lot more than just medical expenses? Let’s look at what is covered by workers’ compensation. You can contact PLBH at (800) 435-7542 for a legal consultation with an employment law attorney.
Medical expenses
Workers’ compensation insurance is designed to pay for medical expenses incurred as a result of a workplace sickness or injury. Surgical procedures, drugs, diagnostic testing, and emergency department visits are all examples of medical treatment. Workers can also seek compensation to cover future medical expenditures, but if you plan to do so, you should consult with a workers’ compensation lawyer in California beforehand.
Lost wages
Workers’ compensation insurance helps ill and injured workers regain most, if not all, of the income lost due to a work-related occurrence, from missing a half-day of pay to losing wages for a month. The percentage of earnings recovered is determined by state workers’ compensation legislation.
Costs of a funeral
Workers’ compensation insurance can be used to pay for funeral expenses if an employee dies on the job. Workers’ compensation also pays out death payments to an employee’s beneficiaries in some jurisdictions.
Disability
Some industrial accidents cause significant injuries that need months, if not years, of recovery. Although Social Security Disability Insurance (SDDI) is the principal program for compensating disabled workers, a handicapped employee should also apply for financial aid through the state workers’ compensation program.
Workplace injuries that aren’t covered by workers’ compensation
Despite the fact that workers’ compensation covers a wide range of ailments, there are times when an employee is not eligible for financial help due to a work-related sickness or injury. An employee who failed a drug test after reporting a work-related injury is the finest illustration.
Not a work-related injury
The first criterion is that the illness or injury must have occurred at work or be directly related to your job. For example, a worker may become unwell after being exposed to a chemical at work, but the symptoms might not manifest until the worker returns home.
Self-Inflicted
Self-inflicted denotes that an employee’s activities resulted in an injury or disease. When an employee starts a fight at work and suffers one or more injuries, this exclusion is a good illustration.
Company policy violation
The majority of businesses develop safety policies to avoid workplace accidents. An employee who breaks a corporate policy and is injured as a result is not entitled to financial compensation.
Employees are ineligible for workers’ compensation benefits if they engage in criminal behavior at work that results in illness or injury.
Find out if you’re covered by workers’ compensation in California
Speak with an expert workers’ compensation lawyer to maximize the financial aid you receive for a work-related sickness or accident. Send us a quick online form or contact PLBH at (800) 435-7542 to schedule a free case review with one of our California-licensed attorneys.