Workers’ Compensation

Employers have a legal responsibility to their employees to make the workplace safe. However, accidents happen even when every reasonable safety measure has been taken.

To protect employers from lawsuits resulting from workplace accidents and to provide medical care and compensation for lost income to employees hurt in workplace accidents, in almost every state, businesses are required to buy workers’ compensation insurance.

Workers’ compensation provides payments to injured workers, without regard to who was at fault in the accident, for time lost from work and for medical and rehabilitation services. It also provides death benefits to surviving spouses and dependents.

Each state has different laws governing the amount and duration of lost income benefits, the provision of medical and rehabilitation services and how the system is administered. For example, in most states there are regulations that cover whether the worker or employer can choose the doctor who treats the injuries and how disputes about benefits are resolved.

Injuries employees sustain on the workplace premise or anywhere else while the employee is acting in the “course and scope” of employment are covered if their employer has workers’ compensation insurance. For example, the leading cause of workers’ compensation death claims is traffic accidents that occur when the employee is in a vehicle for work purposes, whether the trip is made in the company’s car or the employee’s own vehicle. Accidents driving to and from work are not covered.

In addition to injuries from accidents, workers’ compensation covers injuries employees may sustain from other events that may occur while they are working, including workplace violence, terrorist attacks and natural disasters. Workers’ compensation insurance also covers certain illnesses and occupational diseases (defined in the state statutes) contracted as a result of employment. For example, employees who work with toxic chemicals can become ill by exposure to the chemicals.

Leave the worry to us by obtaining Workers’ Compensation coverage today!

Find out more about our Workers’ Compensation policy and obtain a free quote by contacting your local IMT Independent Insurance Agent!

This is a brief summary of coverage and is intended only as an aid in selecting a policy. Review the actual policy for details on all coverages, terms, limits, conditions and exclusions, or contact your IMT Independent Insurance Agent for complete details.