If you were at work and fell over and injured yourself you may be entitled to worker’s compensation whoever caused your accident and subsequent injury. You could be covered by workers’ compensation insurance provided by your employer which covers the cost of medical treatment and lost earnings while you recover. Make sure your rights to workers’ comp are upheld by discussing your situation with a Connecticut workers’ comp. attorney. Employment in Connecticut There are 1,659,430 workers in Connecticut, according to data held by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The highest number of employees by category of occupation can be found in the office and admin sector where there are 263,970 employed, earning on average $41,970. The sales industry employs 164,750, earning on average $44,360 per annum. The food preparation sector accounts for 135,380 jobs, with average yearly earnings of $25,140. The education sector, including library jobs works out at 124,410 earning $62,140 on average. In the management sector 114,720 are employed with an average annual income of $129,560. Connecticut Workers’ Comp Insurance Requirements for Employers In Connecticut, Workers' Compensation is provided for just about every employee, whether they are citizens or non-citizens, part-time or full-time. The size of the business, length of employment or hours worked each day doesn’t affect eligibility. There are very few exceptions to this rule. A sole proprietor, or director, for example, does not necessarily need to provide workers’ comp. insurance for themselves if they work for their own business, but they may still decide to acquire health or disability insurance privately. Workers’ comp. cover in Connecticut works on the basis of a no-fault system, meaning employees are eligible, even if the accident was their fault. Whether the employer is insured by a private insurer or is self-insured, it is required to pay benefits to all employees when they are injured at work. Any employee who is injured or falls ill because of a work-related accident or because the type of work caused the illness is only permitted to claim compensation under the Connecticut’s Workers' Compensation Act and cannot sue his or her employer for injury or sickness benefits. The only exception to this is if the worker has proof that the employer deliberately caused the injury or accident. However, an employee and/or employer can sue a 3rd party, if they think that someone else or a product caused the illness or injury. The Workers' Compensation Act states that the employer must provide medical treatment, benefits to replace lost wages and other benefits that are required to ensure that the employee does not need to face unnecessary hardship due to an accident at work. Seeking Better Compensation Workers’ compensation claims are not always straightforward. There are several reasons why you might decide to use the services of an experienced workers’ comp. attorney. The claim may be denied; the payment offered may be insufficient or your injuries too severe for you to handle the claim yourself. A workers’ comp attorney can advise you on your rights under Connecticut law, help with the claim process and negotiate a fair outcome on your behalf.
