Many individuals are at least somewhat familiar with today’s Workers’ Compensation system. It is what protects workers each day on the job to ensure that if an injury happens, regardless of it’s their fault or not, they are covered and will receive benefits and compensation to help them heal from their injury. However, did you know that these laws were not always in place? Less than 200 years ago, Workers’ Compensation in the United States looks very different than it does today. It is important to understand how much the Workers’ Compensation system has evolved over the past two centuries to truly appreciate the protections we have for our workers today.

Prior to the early 1900s, Workers’ Compensation was not mandatory in all U.S. states. Each state had a different threshold of what an injured worker had to prove in order to be compensated for his or her injury. If a worker was injured on the job before the early 1900s, they could sue their employer for their injuries, however, this required having to prove negligence, attend a jury trial, and then ultimately receive an award for their pain and suffering. This meant that if the accident was in part the worker’s fault, they received no rights or benefits as an injured worker.  After the Industrial Revolution, Workers’ Compensation was created. Originally, it was called “Workman’s Compensation” however, it was later changed to Workers’ Compensation in order to be gender-neutral. In the early 1900’s, the system evolved to allow for no requirement of proof of negligence and was mandatory in all states. This meant that it didn’t matter whose fault the injury was, if a worker was injured on the job, they would be eligible for Workers’ Compensation benefits. This was an extremely impactful change to the system because it helped workers who would normally be afraid to step forward, gain the protections they needed to file a claim as a result of a work-related illness or injury.

If you’ve been injured on the job, please do not be afraid to contact an attorney even if it was your fault and your employer has fired you as a result of the accident. This is relatively common with truck drivers involved in car accidents. Remember, if this applies to you, you are still eligible for Workers’ Compensation. You have rights regardless of negligence and regardless of who is at fault for the accident and injury. Georgia is a no-fault state as are most other U.S. states. If you are unsure of your state-specific rights as it pertains to negligence and proving fault, contact an attorney and they will be able to provide you with all the necessary information you need to know in order to begin the process of filing a Workers’ Compensation claim. The Workers’ Compensation system today ensures that injured workers have their medical treatment covered as well as receive PPP which is a payment you will be paid once you have achieved maximum medical improvement. This is a way to show permanent injury without awarding you pain and suffering. A workplace injury is serious and can result in a large volume of stress in your everyday life. Luckily, the system has evolved since the 1800s to ensure that injured workers are protected to the fullest extent and workers do not have to be afraid when they step foot on their job site. If you’ve been injured on the job, contact Poirier Law Firm today. Our expertise in today’s Workers’ Compensation system will ensure that you receive the maximum amount of benefits and compensation you are entitled to as an injured worker. Regardless of if your negligence played a role in your injury or not, you have rights just as any other injured worker and you should exercise them to the fullest extent.