Do you have a job in New Hampshire? Are you aware of the state’s workers’ compensation rules? Every employee in the state should make him or herself familiar with what their employer should do just in case they are injured or develop a sickness in the course of their job. While compensation is not guaranteed, most employers should be insured as a result of state legislation. This insurance can help to pay for any medical expenses incurred by you after an injury or illness at work. You may also be compensated if you are partially or permanently disabled and cannot return to work. Employment in New Hampshire New Hampshire is not a very large state, but there are still 645,000 people engaged in some type of occupation there. Typically important occupations are office work (107,000); sales and related jobs (82,000); food preparation (56,620; production (45,000) and education and training occupations (44,280). All figures here are those provided by the federal agency, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which maintains information related to wages and occupations on an updated annual basis. New Hampshire workers enjoy hourly and annual wage figures of $24.13 an hour and $50,180 a year respectively. Employers and Workers’ Comp Insurance in New Hampshire All employers must acquire workers’ compensation insurance in New Hampshire. There are no exceptions. It doesn’t matter how long the employees work for, or how many there are employed; they must be covered by the employer’s mandatory insurance policy. Even relatives of the employer, if working for that employer, must be included in the insurance package. Employers should take out insurance with a private carrier. If there is a problem with finding an insurer because of the extent of perceived risk, then they may apply for coverage with the state’s Assigned Risk Plan. This is administered by the National Council of Compensation Insurance. Insurers that do not wish to cover an individual employer must inform the employer of this possibility. Additional Information about Workers’ Comp Rules in New Hampshire Employers that are sole proprietors or the self employed are exempt from the state’s requirement to provide workers’ compensation insurance, although they are encouraged to take out insurance if they so wish. Also exempt are partners and corporate officers. There is no state fund in New Hampshire as there is in a few states, such as Montana. All insurance must be acquired from a private carrier. An Experienced Workers’ Comp Attorney Can Assist With Your Claim When you have been hurt at work and are struggling to cope, the last thing you want is to deal with a reluctant or unco-operative employer, or one that is uninsured. The best advice, if you are in this situation, is to approach an experienced workers’ comp attorney and discuss your situation. The attorney will advise you of your rights and discuss legal options if you have an uninsured employer. There may be grounds for a personal injury lawsuit against the employer, especially if you can obtain proof that the employer was at fault.
