Workers compensation is mandated by law for employees in order to provide for injuries, illnesses, or death sustained at work. Workers compensation varies in type depending on the industry; heavy industry has different worker's compensation rates than light industry. An office worker, for example, could have a lower worker's compensation rate than an industrial worker. However, the principal for both is the same; if either worker sustains an injury while performing his or her duties, that worker could be entitled to receive compensation for lost wages and medical expenses for the work-related injury. If an employee is killed during the performance of a work-related duty, worker's compensation could pay the surviving dependents the death benefits as compensation.
Some workers sustain injuries over a long period of time. Office workers, for example, are often the victims of carpal-tunnel disease, which is an injury sustained from repetitive motions, such as typing on a keyboard. Because this condition does not manifest instantly, workers are encouraged to keep a log of symptoms or pains, and to visit doctors regularly to attempt to prevent work-related injuries.
In the case of an immediate injury, especially resulting in bleeding or broken bones, documentation is encouraged. Photographic evidence, along with any notes on how the injury occurred, is helpful in establishing the legal facts of the case. If the employer attempts to refuse to pay worker's compensation, hospital records, along with the detailed documentation of the injury could often cause employers to start paying worker's compensation.
Depending on the state and the industry, workers compensation is typically a set rate based on the worker's salary. However, if the case involves an especially grievous injury that resulted from negligence on the part of the employer, the victim may be entitled to additional financial remuneration, in addition to a regular compensatory settlement.