| There once was a time when a worker who was | | | | injury from a lot of typing. |
| injured on the job had little recourse. Not just was he | | | | If a worker is seriously injured or ill, worker's |
| physically injured, he lost income and had medical bills | | | | compensation also will pay for vocational rehabilitation |
| to pay. Sometimes the injury left a worker disabled | | | | such as physical therapy or training for a different job. |
| and unable to provide for his family. The worker had | | | | Some programs also pay workers for loss of future |
| few options besides to sue the employer for | | | | earnings, if the injury prevents them from continuing in |
| compensation. By and large, the workers lost. This is | | | | a higher-paying occupation than they can pursue |
| what led to the establishment of Worker's | | | | because of a disability. If a worker is killed on the job, |
| Compensation. | | | | the program pays funeral costs and survivors may |
| Worker's compensation refers to a state-run insurance | | | | receive benefits to replace the deceased's lost wages. |
| program that protects the majority of workers in case | | | | A worker who's injured on the job should first file a |
| of an on-the-job injury or an illness that results from | | | | claim form, available from the employer. Next the |
| working conditions. Exempted from this coverage are | | | | worker can expect to undergo an independent medical |
| agricultural workers including farm owners and crop | | | | examination by a physician chosen by the employer's |
| harvesters; domestic employees such as maids, | | | | insurance company. It's important for the employee to |
| housekeepers, butlers and the like; independent | | | | pay close attention to the doctor's diagnosis, to ask |
| contractors of any sort; and employees of small | | | | questions and to make notes of the examination |
| businesses with five or fewer workers. | | | | afterward. |
| While each program varies in some details, all are set | | | | Any worker who suspects that his or her employer, or |
| up to provide monetary benefits to a worker whose | | | | the employer's insurance company, may challenge a |
| injury or illness resulted from a job-related accident or | | | | worker's compensation claim should consult with an |
| from the conditions of employment. Examples of this | | | | attorney specializing in worker's compensation law. |
| could be someone who breaks a bone in a fall, some | | | | The lawyer can help the worker obtain all the benefits |
| who loses hearing as the result of working in a noisy | | | | to which he or she is due under the law. |
| environment, or someone who suffers repetitive stress | | | | |