For many years there have been on-the-job accidents where an employee was injured. Fortunately, under the law, the employer must be covered by a workers compensation insurance company. This requirement goes back in United States History to 1902 when a state law was passed in Maryland. It is an essential part of any situation where there are employees and offers protection for both the employee and the employer.

Having workers compensation coverage is essential to be sure that any employee injured on the job will receive the required doctor or hospital care as well as lost wages while disabled. In addition, should he or she be killed their family will receive benefits. Long term care, retraining and rehabilitation are also covered. Prior to this law, many people were injured or killed on the job with no type of compensation.

The entire United States as well as many other countries throughout the world have this type of employer insurance in place. The rules and regulations vary from state to state and country to country. However, in California the employer has a choice of using the State Workers Compensation Fund, or being covered by an insurance broker or a private insurance carrier. It is mandatory that any employer carry this insurance.

Under the law there are certain things that are mandatory and the law and its amendments are quite complex. In addition they can be changed at any time. No company with employees can operate in the state without this insurance. There is absolutely no exception to this rule.

Unless an employee has provided written notice regarding what physician to contact in case of an injury, the employer chooses who is to be contacted. If no notification is given the employee must wait 30 days before changing doctors. On occasion this is noted on the employment papers.

There is a waiting period of three days after an injury before a claim can be filed for benefits. This period is rescinded to the date of the accident if the employee is hospitalized or is off work because of the injury, for a period of 14 days. The Federal Government also has special compensation for specific injuries from certain government projects.

Depending on the laws of the state, an injured worker can be denied benefits if the accident was caused by their negligence or if they were intoxicated. If such an employee feels they were wrongly treated they can contact a lawyer and ask for a Compensation Litigation to hear their case. The workers compensation insurance company would represent the employer in such a case.

Get the low down on the requirements of an employer and a workers compensation insurance company now in our complete workers compensation coverage overview.