People are so fortunate to live and work in the United States. Unlike so many other countries, there are laws in this country to help protect the workers of companies when they are injured on the job. These laws come in the form of workers compensation insurance.
Vermont’s worker compensation laws have been active since 1915. This insurance is offered to all employees at no cost and is designed to compensate an employee when they are injured on the job. Vermont has a no-fault workers compensation policy in effect, and it is administered by the Vermont Department of Labor.
Most States like Vermont carry a no-fault workers compensation policy because it protects the worker and the company at the same time. It provides immediate medical treatment and lost wages for approved workers claim and it eliminate the employee form filing a lawsuit against the company for personal injury. This type of insurance speeds up the process for the worker to get the treatment they need to be able to go back to work and saves the company time and money from lawsuits for every single little injury.
Common Injuries
In Vermont, common injury examples -
Broken bones
Back and neck problems
Cuts, burns and abrasions
Hernia
Concussions
Etc……
All you need to do is simply inform a supervisor of the nature and cause of your injury. You can do this verbally but it is better to get everything down in a written report. In most cases they will send you to go get treatment after you verbally declared your injury, then have you fill out a form at a later time.
The laws and the insurance policy is set up so that they cannot refuse you treatment because you got hurt and cannot refuse to pay your lost wages if you are out of work longer than 3 days.
Exceptions To The No Fault Policy
For the employer, the company can refuse to pay for your medical or lost wages is you were found to be –
1.Under the influence
2.Hurt yourself on purpose
3.You did not follow safety protocol or use the proper safety equipment.
For the employee, you can file a lawsuit if –
1.You were fired for getting hurt on the job
2.Were put into an unsafe work conditions not in your job description
3.Were injured by another employee or management
If you have been seriously injured and the company or the Department of labor does not satisfy your complaint, then you also can hire a lawyer for additional assistance. Other than that, Vermont has great workers compensation laws that work well for the company and the employees.