Hurt on the job full#

You still need to apply for workers’ compensation benefits, and your application may be rejected. However, keep in mind that even though you are eligible from day one, you can’t claim benefits from day one. So even if you are not yet eligible for the health insurance benefits provided by your employer, they still have to provide you with workers’ compensation benefits. Why Workers’ Compensation Is DifferentĪlmost every employer in South Carolina is legally required by the state to provide workers’ compensation benefits for all employers, regardless of how long they’ve been employed, even if it’s one day. In most circumstances, you are still eligible for workers’ compensation benefits even if you were injured on your first day on the job.

Hurt on the job full#

In fact, workers may even be more likely to be injured in their first few days on the job, since they probably haven’t received full safety training yet. This nightmare scenario is, unfortunately, more common than you might think, so if it happened to you, you’re not alone. So it can seem like a nightmare if you get injured and are no longer able to perform your job duties right off the bat. You may even be on a probationary period, and even if not, it’s likely that most of your benefits, including health insurance and paid sick leave, haven’t even kicked in yet. Give us a call today to discuss your injury claim.When it’s your first day on the job, you want to make a good impression. The lawyers at Hunter & Everage in Richmond, Virginia, and Charlotte, North Carolina can help you obtain the workers’ compensation benefits and other compensation that you may be entitled to, regardless of whether you’re classified as an employee or an independent contractor. If you’ve suffered an injury at work, you don’t have to go it alone. What to Do If You’ve Been Injured on the Job You may need guidance from an experienced lawyer to help you figure it out. The First Question to Answer If You’re Injured at WorkĪn important first question when you’re injured on the job is whether you qualify as an “employee” or “independent contractor.” Your employer may tell you that you’re one or the other, but you shouldn’t always take your employer’s word for it.Įmployers sometimes misclassify workers as “independent contractors” so they can enjoy the cost savings, even though the true nature of the working relationship is that of an employer/employee. If they win, independent contractors may recover damages for direct economic losses, such as medical bills and lost wages, but also for noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering and diminished quality of life. As with any injured party, the independent contractor can file a personal injury lawsuit against the company or other third parties for negligence. Independent contractors still have a remedy if they’re injured at work. What Can Injured Independent Contractors Do If They’re Injured at Work?

That’s because with contractors, employers aren’t legally required to cover payroll taxes and their employees aren’t eligible for workers’ comp benefits. The independent contractor arrangement also benefits employers, because classifying a worker as a contractor results in a significant cost savings. This arrangement benefits the worker, who gains freedom and flexibility in their work life, often at premium pay rates. Increasingly, companies are hiring independent contractors for specific assignments. Although disputes arise over the extent of injuries and whether they occurred on the job, the system is designed to assure the employee of receiving benefits without having to prove the employer’s negligence while limiting the employer’s risk exposure.īut what happens if you’re an independent contractor and you’re hurt on the job? Why Companies Hire Independent Contractors In theory, workers’ compensation benefits both the employee and the employer. The injured employee has only one remedy: to file a workers’ compensation claim. When an employee is hurt on the job, workers’ compensation laws offer a clear process for the claim.