The majority of Rhode Island workers are entitled to workers’ compensation if they are injured or become ill while performing their jobs. There are a few exceptions to the general requirement for employers to carry workers’ comp so it is important to find out if you are covered at work. Workers’ compensation claims can help to pay medical bills related to workplace injuries and illness and also pay a percentage of wages that may not be paid because of time recovering at home or in the hospital. Employment in Rhode Island Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the U.S. in terms of land area, but is not the smallest in population, which is Wyoming, America’s 10th largest state geographically. Nearly half of Rhode Island’s population of just over a million are employed in the state. As in other parts of the country, there are many more people working in offices (16%) than any other type of occupation, according to figures taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Other important occupational categories in Rhode Island include food preparation, sales, education and training and healthcare. Rhode Island Workers' Compensation Laws Rhode Island laws protect you as an employee if you suffer an accident at work or become ill because of your job. Workers’ compensation insurance is a mandatory requirement for nearly every employer in the state except where they employ domestic workers or agricultural workers. Workers’ compensation claims are designed to limit more extensive and expensive private litigation by employees and also provide near universal basic compensation. However, if you are a worker who finds your employer is illegally uninsured or you are in one of the few exempt categories you may have no other option to secure compensation than by initiating a personal injury lawsuit against your employer if injured or illness occurs through no fault of your own. Talk to an attorney if confused or worried about your right to coverage. Example Case: Hospital-Acquired Infection. Let's take a look at a common way to become injured on the job. As a nurse, you are accidentally infected with a hospital-borne illness, such as MRSA. According to Rhode Island law you have 30 days to inform your employer about your illness. In Rhode Island, employees have 2 years to file a workers’ compensation claim before any particular claim can be automatically barred. As is the case in many other states, Rhode Island is a no-fault state for worker's compensation claims. This means that your claim cannot be denied even if you were partly responsible for the injury or illness you are claiming for. This prevents employers from denying compensation by claiming that you as an employee were to blame to one degree or another for your own health problem. Rhode Island also preserves the right of employees to request their job back if they have not been able to resume working after an accident or illness. Speaking with a Rhode Island Workers' Comp Attorney While the state has what seem to be sensible and clear rules about workers’ compensation claims, not every claim is straightforward. If there are any problems understanding whether you have a right to file a workers’ comp. claim or you find that the claim is held up or denied for any reason, it may be useful to approach a workers’ comp. attorney for assistance.
