truck driver neglect - injured in an accident

When you're hurt at your job and must take time off, workers' compensation will reimburse you for any wages you lose while you're out. But what happens if you have a second or third job? Will workers' comp pay for the hours you lose from them too? It depends on the following factors.

Do the Other Employers Provide Workers' Comp?

To obtain compensation from workers comp for hours lost at your other jobs because of an injury sustained at the liable workplace, those other employers must participate in the insurance program. Since all employers are required to provide workers' comp, chances are good that you're covered.

However, there are some exceptions. For instance, some businesses are exempt from providing workers' comp if they have less than 5 employees. Certain types of jobs, such as domestic workers and seasonal staff, don't have to be covered. People categorized as independent contractors and volunteers are also exempt from coverage.

If any of these exceptions apply to you, workers' comp will usually deny your request for reimbursement. In this case, you should discuss the issue with an attorney. The lawyer may know some workarounds they can use to help you get the money you need.

Can You Still Technically Work Your Other Jobs?

While your injury may prevent you from working the job where you sustained it, that might not be necessarily true for your other positions. For instance, you break your foot. You might not be able to work your factory job because you can't stand on your feet, but you could still do your desk job because you can sit down.

If you're still able to perform your secondary job, the doctor in your case probably won't approve you taking time off from it. Because of this, you won't be compensated if you choose to take a leave of absence so you can heal.

This is another matter you should talk to an attorney about. Even if you're not able to get workers' comp to cover wages lost from your second job, you'll have someone to prevent the insurance company from trying to take away other benefits. Because you can still work, workers' comp may try to use that to justify denying some benefits or shortening the amount of time you can receive them. A lawyer can make sure you receive everything you're owed.

For more information about how workers' comp handles multiple jobs or help with your case, contact a workers' compensation attorney.