Understanding Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Contractors and Subcontractors
The Statutory Employer law § 65.2-302 was established to prevent an owner of a company or business from escaping liability when a worker sustains an injury, specifically those who are hired as contractors and subcontractors, not employees. A subcontractor is hired to complete a specific type of job and then is released from duty, unlike an employee who is hired for a length of time, sustaining a consistent position.
Understanding this law and how it might apply to you is extremely important if you recently engaged in a work accident in the city of Alexandria, VA. Sometimes, employers may try and find a way to remove the burden of having to cover an employee with workers’ compensation insurance for their injury, and you need to be aware of what your rights are.
Whether you were a contractor or a subcontractor to a job, in most cases, an employer in the state of Virginia is required to provide you with the necessary benefits in the event you are involved in an accident while on the job. And if they are giving you a difficult time as you attempt to collect benefits that are rightfully due, our accident lawyers in Alexandria, Virginia and more than willing to assist you with this matter.
What if a subcontractor becomes injured while on the job?
Let’s say you are a roofing contractor and you were hired to complete a job. The employer who hired you should be responsible for providing workers’ compensation benefits to you if you were involved in a work-related accident. Now, if you hire a roofing subcontractor to assist with the job, the employer is “liable to pay any worker employed in the work as if the worker were immediately employed by him” according to the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission.
Basically, anyone hired to complete a job for an employer is more than likely entitled to workers’ compensation benefits in the event they are harmed in a work accident. Of course, you have to be mindful to the fact that there are exceptions to this law. If you brought on the accident yourself because of a work conflict with another employee, you might not be compensated for any injuries you incur.
It is best that if you recently engaged in an accident while on the job that you receive a free consultation from an experienced accident attorney in Alexandria who can explain all your rights as an employee. And in some instances, you may even need them to represent you if the employer who hired you is refusing to provide you with workers’ compensation benefits.
Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission(VWCC) Contact Information
While our dedicated and sympathetic Alexandria, VA accident attorneys can provide you with an abundant amount of information regarding the claims process and what you are entitled to, if you wish to contact the VWCC, you can do so in many different ways.
- For general inquiries, you can call 1-877-664-2566.
- Administration Department- 804-205-3060
- Claims Services Department- 877-664-2566
We are also available to take your call now should you have any questions pertaining to a work-related accident and are seeking answers from a knowledgeable accident attorney in Alexandria, VA.
