Workers' Compensation

 

Workers' Compensation is required in all states and the District of Columbia to pay benefits to workers injured on the job to cover medical care, disabilities and lost wages. By obtaining Workers' Compensation as the employer, you receive immunity from some civil lawsuits by the injured employee.

Protecting one of your most important assets, your employees, is essential to a solid insurance program for your business.  We can assist you in providing coverage for your operations throughout the United States.

Workers' Compensation provides two types of coverage:

 

• Statutory Benefits - compensates employees for injury or illness as required by state law. These benefits vary widely by state.

• Employers Liability - protects you should an employee sue you claiming their injury or illness was caused by your company’s negligence or failure to provide a safe workplace. A lawsuit can be brought by an employee, their spouse and/or dependents as the result of the employee’s injury or illness.

 

In addition to the basic Workers' Compensation policy your company may also be required to provide federal benefits such as:

 

• Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) -Provides no-fault workers compensation benefits to employees, other than masters or crew members of a vessel, injured on navigable waters of the United States or in adjoining areas used in loading, unloading, repairing, or building certain vessels.

• Defense Base Act (DBA) - Extends LHWCA (workers' compensation) benefits to civilian employees and contractors working under federal contracts on military bases, occupied territories and certain other overseas locations. Most U.S. Government contractors working outside the United States are required to obtain DBA coverage.

• Jones Act - Provides seamen with a negligence remedy for on-the-job injuries without having to overcome employer defenses of assumption of the risk, or fellow servant liability. Contributory negligence of the employee does not bar recovery, but recovery is reduced by the proportion of negligence attributable to the employee.

 

Many of our clients operate in multiple states and are required to comply with the mandated laws and benefits of each state. Pinnacle Risk Managers will assist you with evaluating and obtaining Workers' Compensation to meet your needs.