Workmans Comp Insurance: Recommended By Electrical Union

Unions generally represent workers in the most hazardous industries, and those unions recommend the services of Workmans Comp insurance to compensate those workers when injuries occur. In fact, most unions reinforce the law requiring Workmans Compensation insurance for employers in this country, including the Electrical Workers Union. It should be understood, however, that even if the union did not recommend this insurance, the law requires it for most employers, and there are fines and other penalties for employers who fail to obey.

Workmans Comp Insurance

Workmans Comp insurance is a program that provides guaranteed medical care and compensation for work-related injuries and deaths. In exchange, employees cannot sue their employer or other employees for negligence in those injuries. In addition, they cannot collect damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish, and more. Since many injuries occur on the job, this relieves the court system of a great number of lawsuits for such injuries and allows the employee and the employer to care for the injury and get back into the workforce. In addition, it saves employers a great deal of money from tort awards for pain and suffering and mental anguish claims.

Statistics show that over five thousand work-related fatalities occur each year, and over five million injuries and illnesses are considered job-related. Without a Workmans Comp system, the courts would be addressing many more tort cases each year, causing each case to take longer and the system to be even more expensive and difficult to manage.

However, there are some difficulties with an employer-controlled health and injury insurance program.

• Employees must begin their treatment by using doctors approved by the employer or the local Workmans Comp office. This may result in a conflict of interest, since these doctors know they will only continue to receive patients from these employers as long as the employers are satisfied with their recommendations. The interests of the employers may influence their decisions as well, or in place of, that of the patients.

• Employees may face retaliation from employers when they file claims for on-the-job injuries. Such retaliation is illegal, but it does happen and may end up costing an employee their job or their benefits in the future.

Getting Legal Help with Workers Comp Claims in Electrical Union Companies

While there can be serious problems with Workmans Compensation claims in any industry, victims can always contact a Workmans Comp attorney to help with their claim. These attorneys can help when a claim is denied, a worker is forced back to work too soon, or an employee faces retaliation from their employer.