How To Claim Workers Compensation When You’re Self-Employed
Being self-employed puts a lot on your plate. Sick days are often lost at your own expense and paid holidays can only occur when you've saved up enough money. If you get seriously injured or hurt while working, the only way to financially get by is with workers compensation. Even if you're self-employed, there are multiple ways to achieve this compensation, including preventative measures to help in the first place.
If you're self-employed, follow these steps to ensure you will be covered and protected when an unfortunate incident occurs.
Self-Employed Insurance Coverage
If you've been self-employed for three months or more, it's a good idea to get the coverage you need as you go forward. As a workforce of one, the coverage you choose can be affordable and come with different agreements. Along with covering work funds, a compensation coverage package can include options to help with medical bills or extended health care.
When choosing coverage, you can choose to pay monthly or select from a bulk package to cover six months to a year. There are also numerous state funds that can help you obtain a policy. States like California have an official fund. You can fill out paperwork, get a quote, and receive discounted coverage through a state plan. This type of plan is available in nearly half of the United States.
Hire an Attorney
Understanding the details of a workers compensation claim can be frustrating. This is where works compensation lawyers come in. The lawyers have the ability to handle all types of situations, especially a unique case where you are self-employed.
An attorney can help you gather evidence, represent your case, and try to settle with insurance companies as quick as possible. An attorney has seen all types of cases, and there are ways to get your compensation even if you do not have coverage. For example, when completing work for another company, you may be under an independent contractor's agreement. Through that agreement, the person or company you complete work for may be responsible to cover your compensation costs.
Proof of Work
As a self-employed worker, the details for your compensation will be in the work you do. This means that you should have as much evidence as possible in the work you complete and do. There are multiple ways to have this prepared:
- Travel Documents: Keep records of mileage, places visited, and GPS tracking for all the jobs you visit. When you're self-employed, you may work from home or not have a direct office. All of the locations involved in your business can make a big difference.
- Receipts: Receipts will showcase meals that you purchased, supplies you bought for work, and just the overall operations of your business.
- Tax Forms & Agreements: Keep track of all the different types of projects you work on. When self-employed, the variety of work can change and dramatically effect the compensation you earn. By showcasing all the different type of W-9 forms and independent contractor agreements you have, you are able to prove all the work that you are potentially missing due to an injury.
Other Guilty Parties
When working with a lawyer, you may find that they are not just seeking compensation from an insurance company, but from other parties involved with the injury. For example, if you were driving during the incident, the other drivers may be responsible for your injuries. The same could be said if you're on location for a job. For example, if you're a writer working at a coffee shop, you could slip and fall. The coffee shop could be sued for the loss of work that occurs due to your injury.
A lawyer will help determine what parties to include in the case. Each settlement could be separate or a part of a group agreement. Check out this go to site for more info.
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