It is hard to imagine a world where hurt or injured workers were expected to keep doing their job despite the pain, worse even in cases where the hurt employee wasn’t at fault; he had little to no possibility of expecting any help from their employers. This horrible situation was eventually rectified but not without struggle. Learn the history and what you need to know about workers’ compensation with examples. Companies such as Steinberg, Goodman & Kalish would be a reputable firm that would be able to help with compensation claims.
Workman’s Compensation History
Europe’s industrial revolution brought about dire work conditions; cramped spacing and poor ventilation lead to some terrible accidents. They were usually resulting in severe trauma, maiming, and other crippling injuries. Unfortunately for the employee, the employer usually protected by a protection clause known aptly as the Unholy Trinity, and even when brought to trial, the employers were rarely, if ever, found responsible.
Contributory Injury: The employer wasn’t at fault for the employee’s injury.
Fellow Servant Doctrine: Employers weren’t liable if employees hurt each other.
Assumption of Risk: The employee knew the risks the job entailed and, as such, wasn’t responsible for the injury. It could be a workplace injury accident.
It was only after Prussian Chancellor Otto Von Bismark brought about change by implementing the Sickness and Accident laws that any changes were enacted. It elevated the worker and valued their trials and tribulation.
Liability Law of 1871: bequeathed protection to factory workers, quarries, and other dangerous professions.
Accident Insurance of 1884: became the modern workers’ protection.
Public Pension Insurance: workers with a non-related work injury were given money if they couldn’t work.
Aid: A safety net for workers with disabilities.
The United States took 37 years for every state to pass its version of workers compensation law. In 1911 Wisconsin became the first, and Mississippi became the last in 1948.
What is Workers Compensation
Workers’ Comp is a form of insurance used to protect employees who become injured or disabled due to their jobs. The Office of Workers’ Compensation Program covers four major disability programs. Wage replacement benefits, medical treatment, vocational rehabilitation, among other services.
The employee usually gives up the right to sue their employer if they accept the Workers Compensation packages. A good lawyer can assist with the process. Workers compensation attorneys such as Keller Law Offices can offer professional help in this regard.
I got hurt. Am I Covered?
Dangers in the workplace are present, and the ever-ready employee is trained to avoid these dangers; the employer usually takes measures to guarantee safety, but accidents do happen. Injuries suffered can be physical and psychological; falls, slips, trips, body stress, and back injury sustained from repetitive lifting of a heavy object without the proper safety gear. Hearing loss, loss of vision suffered from working in a dangerous environment without the appropriate safety gear. Even mental strain has some coverage to file a claim, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress; if the source is the workplace, they are covered.
How do they take care of me?
● Wage Replacement Benefits
● Medical treatments
● Therapy Sessions
● Vocational Rehabilitation
● Other benefits depending on the type of injury.
How do I reach out for help?
First, notify your employer as soon as possible. The first step is filing a workplace injury report followed by a doctor’s visit to obtain a certification of incapacity. Then submit the form to the insurance agency within seven days. The insurance agency has 21 days to respond to the incident. They may begin to cover with interim payments and treatment.
If denied workers’ compensation, the victim is well within his rights to reach out to a lawyer and proceed with legal action to determine if you have a case for a claim and his/her claim’s validity.