Don’t get cheated, get Workers’ Compensation

Business Insurance- Workers’ Compensation

Here at Chalasinski Insurance Group (CIG), we strive to protect businesses and contractors from various risks that can result in devastating financial troubles with business insurance. An integral aspect of business insurance, especially for businesses with numerous employees, is Workers’ Compensation, which helps pay for the lost wages and medical expenses of employees who have become ill or injured while working.

If you are interested in purchasing Workers’ Compensation for your business, please contact CIG President Tom Chalasinski at 440-838-5383.

History of Workers’ Compensation

The first type of workers’ compensation law in the United States was passed in 1855, when Georgia and Alabama approved the Employer Liability Act. This law permitted injured employees to sue their employers and then prove the neglectful actions.

Around 1885, workers’ compensation laws began to reduce the need for legal proceedings in court, and alleviated the requirement that injured workers prove their injuries were the employer’s fault.

At the turn of the twentieth century, workers’ compensation laws became voluntary because many people felt they violated the 14^th Amendment’s due process clause, since it didn’t allow the employer to take the employee to court. However the 1917 court case of New York Central Railway Co. vs. White established that the employer’s constitutional rights were not affected, and after the ruling most states sanctioned new workers’ compensation laws.

Workers’ Compensation Fraud

Due to the reduced need for legal proceedings in court regarding workers’ compensation, tens of billions of dollars in false claims and unpaid premiums are stolen every year. Here are the top five most common forms of workers’ compensation fraud by workers according to the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud:

1. Remote Injuries: worker gets injured away from work but claim they were hurt on the job
2. Inflating Injuries: worker has a minor job injury, but lies about the degree of the injury
3. Faking Injuries: worker fabricates an injury that never took place
4. Old Injuries: worker with old injury that never healed claims it as a recent work injury
5. Lingering: worker stays home by pretending a disability is ongoing when it has already healed

Most Common Workers’ Compensation Claims

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the five industries that account for the most work-related injuries are:

• emergency responders
• transportation industry workers
• cleaning professionals
•  law enforcement/criminal justice workers
•  HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) workers

Getting Workers’ Compensation

CIG does not offer Workers’ Compensation because it is administered by the state. For more information, or to enroll in a Workers’ Compensation Insurance plan, visit the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation website at ohiobwc.com.

We can however help you with all your other business insurance needs. Please contact CIG President, Tom Chalasinski, at 440-838-5383 with any questions and he will be more than happy to assist you. We look forward to hearing from you and aiding in your business’s success.