Workers Compensation Insurance
Workers' compensation pays for benefits such as medical care treatment for employees who are injured or become ill due to their jobs. Workers' compensation may also pay some of an employee's lost income. If an employee dies because of a work-related illness or injury, workers' compensation pays benefits to the employee's family, and some burial expenses.
Workers' compensation will not pay if employees:
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Intentionally caused their injuries.
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Are injured while intoxicated or playing around.
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Are injured outside of work, or while voluntarily participating in an off-duty social or sports event.
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Are injured by another party for personal reasons that are not job related.
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Are injured by an "act of God," such as a hurricane or flood, unless the job has a high exposure to these types of events.
Additional Notes About Workers' Compensation
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Texas does not require the majority of private employers to have workers' compensation. However, private employers who contract with government entities are required to provide workers' compensation coverage for their employees who are working on the project. Some contractors may require their subcontractors and independent contractors to have workers' compensation.
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Employers with workers' compensation have a key legal protection.
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If you have workers' compensation insurance, you're protected from most lawsuits by injured employees. You can't be sued unless an employee dies because of your negligence.
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Injured employees resolve their claim disputes through a dispute resolution process.