Few people worry about being injured at work, but the worst can happen and you may be involved in a serious accident or become ill because of work conditions. It is reassuring to know that the vast majority of employees in North Dakota are protected by workers’ compensation insurance. There are some exceptions, so it is advisable to find out what the situation is at your place of employment in case you are involved in an unfortunate accident or become ill. If you are covered by your employer’s insurance policy, this should help to pay medical bills and compensate for lost earnings if you have to stay at home while recovering. Employment in North Dakota North Dakota is one of America’s more lightly populated states, despite spanning many hundreds of square miles from one end to the other. While the usual types of jobs that seem to be most common anywhere else in the U.S. are also the most common in north Dakota (office and administrative support, sales), there are other types of jobs that are more common than in other states. This includes transportation and material moving as well as construction and extraction. These are the sorts of jobs where workers’ compensation insurance is very important as they involve higher risk occupations, like truck driving and mining. Workers’ Comp Regulations in Brief for North Dakota Nearly all employers must take out workers’ compensation insurance to protect both their workers as well as themselves from personal injury lawsuits. There are very few exceptions, some of which are indicated below. Employers can face serious penalties and even criminal charges if they fail to protect their employees when they are required to do so. It doesn’t matter if you are working part or full time, seasonally or even just occasionally for an employer, it is most likely that if you are injured or become ill while at work that you are able to file a workers’ compensation claim to recover the costs of any medical treatment and help to obtain lost earnings while recovering. Domestic workers and agricultural workers, such as ranch hands, railroad workers, federal employees, newspaper deliverers or anyone employed by a place of worship are some of the more important exceptions to the North Dakota Century Code and may not be covered by workers’ compensation insurance arrangements. Talk to an attorney if unsure of your rights. More Information about Workers’ Comp. Requirements If you are a truck driver in North Dakota and are working for a trucking firm and are not a sole proprietor, you should be covered by workers’ compensation if you are injured in an accident while making a delivery. Mining and natural gas field operations in the state employ a lot of people and are inherently more risky than many other types of jobs. Accidents at work can lead to a workers’ comp claim being filed. Even restaurant workers, of which there are large numbers in this state, are exposed to certain work related risks like burns and scalds and trips and falls and can become ill if food is not stored in safe conditions. As in other states, North Dakota has a no-fault policy with regard to workers’ compensation. This means that even if a worker has contributed to their own injuries or illnesses they may still be able to claim compensation. A Workers’ Comp Attorney May Help You if Confused or Frustrated With a Legitimate Claim Injuries at work can leave you confused or frustrated, especially if it is not clear what the process is to recover medical costs you have incurred or you think you may lose some of your wages because your injuries prevent you from going straight back to work. The workers’ compensation claim process may not be as straightforward as it should be. This is when an independent workers’ comp. attorney can help provide advice and steer you through what has to be done in order to obtain compensation.
