Workers' Compensation By State

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If you have been injured on the job, there may be financial assistance available to help you make ends meet while you're out of work. The vast majority of employers in the USA are required to offer some form of workers' compensation insurance to assist employees who have been hurt while working.

How Workers' Compensation Can Help

So what types of injuries can a workers' comp cover? Here are a few examples of the damages you might be entitled to:

  • Any medical care you require after the injury, such as hospital bills, medication costs, and the expense of physical therapy
  • A portion of lost wages that you would have earned had you not hurt yourself at work
  • The cost of retraining or additional education to find a suitable position if you cannot return to the same job
  • Survivors' benefits if you or your spouse were to pass away due to a workplace injury.

You may be entitled to some, or all of these benefits. To confirm what types of damages you might receive, you should speak with a workers' compensation attorney.

Workers' Compensation Differences by State

Unfortunately, there is not a nationwide standard for workers' compensation benefits. Some employers are not required to carry workers' compensation if they have less than three employees. Others will need insurance if they have just one employee.

Your timeframe for filing a workers' compensation claim will also vary depending on where you work. You may have just three months' eligibility to file a workers' compensation claim in your home state, while some employees could file for financial assistance up to three years after the injury occurred.

Because you may have just a matter of months to file your claim, you should speak with a workers' compensation attorney as soon as you can. A workers' comp lawyer can help protect your rights and fight get the benefits you need.

Here are each state's specific workers' compensation laws: