what is workmans comp

Workers compensation, also known as workers comp, is a form of insurance that provides wage replacement and medical benefits to employees who are injured or become ill as a direct result of their job. In exchange for these benefits, employees relinquish their right to sue their employer for the injury or illness. Employers are required to pay for this insurance, and the Workers Compensation Board is a state agency that processes the claims. The amount that a claimant receives is not decreased by the claimants carelessness, nor increased by an employers fault. If a worker is not receiving benefits because the employer or insurance carrier is arguing that the injury is not job-related, that worker may be eligible for disability. Every state has its own workers compensation laws and regulations, and employers must comply with the state, territory, or commonwealth legislation that applies to them.