Changing Employers and Getting Workers’ Compensation
You were hurt in an accident on the job. The accident took place as you were doing your job for your employer. Your injuries that resulted from the accident on the job were of such a nature that you would not be able to return to work for several weeks.
Your employer is covered by workers’ compensation insurance. A claim is filed for workers’ compensation benefits because of your injuries that were brought about by the accident on the job.
Changing employers
So far, there is nothing unusual about this. This is a scenario that happens every day across the United States. However, something happens that causes you as an injured worker to have some important questions. You become employed by another employer. You have changed employers and are no longer working for the one you were working for when you were injured in the accident on the job.
Can you still get workers’ compensation benefits for your injuries, even though you have changed employers and are no longer working for the employer where the accident happened on the job? How is this going to affect the workers’ compensation benefits that you receive? What are you supposed to do?
The answers to these questions depend on several things. Some of these include:
Was your workers’ compensation claim for injuries that you received on the job denied by your employer’s insurance company? If so, you are still allowed to appeal your denial, even though you are no longer working for that employer. You still have the right to try and get workers’ compensation benefits for the injuries that you suffered on the job, even though you are now working for another employer.
Was your workers’ compensation claim approved by your employer’s insurance carrier? If it was approved and you are receiving workers’ compensation benefits, the fact that you are now working for another employer will probably affect the amount of the benefits that you receive. Depending on what your salary is from your new employer, this may reduce the amount of your benefits from workers’ compensation.
What are you supposed to do? You may be required to report in writing within a given time period to your former employer where the accident occurred or to his insurance company that your employment status has changed, that you are now working for another employer.
Workers’ compensation laws vary from state to state
It is important for you to understand that the laws regarding workers’ compensation are not the same in every state. Consequently, the procedure is also not the same in every state that you are required to follow in order to get workers’ compensation benefits when you are no longer employed by the employer you were working for when the accident took place in which you were hurt on the job.
You are going to need the help and expertise of a workers’ compensation attorney who is well acquainted with the specific laws in your state in regard to obtaining workers’ compensation benefits when you are no longer working for the employer where your injuries occurred. In addition, you may have other questions concerning workers’ compensation benefits. A workers’ compensation attorney is the one who has the answers.
Related articles
- Statute of Limitations on Workers’ Compensation Claim in Illinois (usworkerscomp.com)
- Third Party Claims for Injuries on the Job (usworkerscomp.com)
- What if I Want to See Another Doctor (usworkerscomp.com)
