PERSONAL INJURY - WORKERS COMPENSATION LAW

Workers Compensation Law Overview

Workers' Compensation laws provide employees who are injured or disabled on the job, fixed monetary awards, without having to endure litigation. Benefits are also provided for dependents of those workers who are killed because of work-related accidents or illnesses.

Other laws protect employers and co-workers by limiting recovery amounts and liabilities of both the employers and co-workers. Both state and federal workers compensation statutes provide this structure.

Several other acts provide for different situations in different parts of the government and workforce, and they include:

» The Federal Employment Compensation Act provides workers compensation for non-military, federal employees.
» The Federal Employment Liability Act (FELA), for railroads and their employees.
» The Merchant Marine Act (the Jones Act), for seamen.
» The Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA).
» The Black Lung Benefits Act provides compensation for miners suffering from "black lung" (pneumoconiosis).

Access the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act at the Government site directly: www.access.gpo.gov

The Act is located at Chapter 8 of Title 29 in the U.S. Labor Code.

Additional Workers Compensation Resources