Pennsylvania employees can become injured on the job for a number of reasons. When that happens, they can file for workers’ compensation through their employer. Workers’ compensation coverage B is one of the policies available to a person who sustains a work-related injury.
Understanding workers’ compensation coverage B
Workers’ compensation coverage B is the employer’s liability coverage. It protects the employee by paying for their damages while they are unable to work due to job-related injury or illness. Workers’ comp coverage B typically includes $100,000 for bodily injury caused by an accident for each accident, $500,000 for on-the-job illnesses policy limit and $100,000 per illness for each employee.
Employees who are injured or fall ill due to their jobs can recover 100% of coverage for their medical expenses, a percentage of their lost wages and a lump sum for disability and disfigurement. If the worker dies as a result of their injury or illness, their surviving family members can recover a death benefit to cover burial and funeral costs.
Example of how workers’ compensation coverage B works
Because workers’ compensation coverage B represents the employer’s liability coverage, it protects workers when they are injured or become sick on the job. It also includes part A, which refers to the state’s insurance laws employers are required to follow. Part B applies when an employee needs additional coverage for their damages due to the employer’s negligence.
For example, if an employee notices a dangerous situation in the workplace and informs their employer, the employer is required to address it by having the issue repaired. If the employee ends up suffering an injury because the employer neglects to handle the problem, then they would have to provide workers’ comp coverage B to the injured worker, which is in addition to the standard workers’ comp benefits.
Employers cannot retaliate against injured workers regardless of whether their negligence led to their injuries.