Getting hurt at the job can be painful in more ways than one. Not only is a person physically injured, but he or she can lose income due to the injury. What’s more, there can be medical bills to deal with. Fortunately, most employees today are covered by a program known as Worker’s Compensation.

Worker’s Compensation was established to protect both employers and employees. Employers can budget costs by using insurance plans to cover payments to injured workers rather than risking litigation. Employees have access to an income when unable to work due to a job related illness or injury. While Worker’s Compensation statutes are different in every state, the basic plans are very similar.

There once was a time when a worker who was injured on the job had little recourse. Not just was he physically injured, he lost income and had medical bills to pay. Sometimes the injury left a worker disabled and unable to provide for his family. The worker had few options in addition to to sue the employer for compensation. Oftentimes, the workers lost. This is what led to the establishment of Worker’s Compensation.