If you are injured in a workplace injury in Aventura in a traditional job where you get a W-2 slip at the end of the year, you are generally covered. Employers, even small businesses, are required to carry and pay for workers’ compensation insurance for all eligible full-time and part-time workers. If a worker is injured, this insurance pays for needed medical care and replaces some lost income.
However, a growing number of people are going to work for themselves. About 15 million Americans, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, are self-employed and while being your own boss has many benefits, it can complicate matters if you are injured at work.
Self-employed individuals and contractors are not covered by workers’ compensation insurance. This can mean injured persons may need to seek other options if they are injured during work duties.
Protecting Yourself as a Self-Employed Person in Aventura
If you are self-employed in Florida in a high-risk occupation such as construction, laws may require you to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Even if you work from home in a low-risk self-employment capacity, you may still want to seek workers’ compensation insurance from a provider, as well as robust medical insurance.
Workers’ compensation coverage can help you replace lost income and may cover some expenses your medical insurance does not. Together, they can provide a safety net and for many self-employed individuals the premiums may be tax-deductible. Speak with your financial advisor or tax accountant about the tax implications and details.
What To Do if You’re Injured on the Job in Aventura
If you are self-employed and injured on the job, it is useful to speak to an Aventura workplace injury claims attorney. While you may not have workers’ compensation coverage, you may have more options than you realize and an attorney can discuss whether any of them apply to you.
In some cases, injured contractors may have a claim against a liable party, which allows them to seek compensation for their injuries. Medical insurance and other coverage a worker has can cover some or all of the injuries. Some self-employed people belong to professional organizations which can help. In some cases, self-employed persons have been misclassified by their employer and are actually employees under the law, meaning they should have access to compensation.
Pursuing fair compensation is important if you are self-employed. Your injury may prevent you from working and earning the income you need to pay for bills. Without adequate compensation, you may need to use savings or even liquidate assets to pay for your injury, which could impact your financial wellbeing. If you have been injured, it is important to get medical help, secure documentation about your injury, and pursue all options for compensation.
If you have been injured at work, contact Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN) for a free accident consultation. Our team has more than 60 years of combined experience and we have recovered tens of millions of dollars on behalf of thousands of injured plaintiffs. Our workplace injury attorney in Aventura can review your situation to determine whether you may have a potential claim.