If you've been injured and think you're entitled to worker's compensation you should notify your employer as soon as possible. If you think you are not getting enough money to cover your medical costs and lost wages, or if you are unhappy with any aspect of how your claim is handled, you may request a hearing before a worker's compensation judge. You have up to one year to report a worker's compensation injury. If you wait one year and one day, you will be unable to collect anything. Most employees are entitled to receive worker's compensation.
Some states also exclude domestic workers, farm workers, and independent contractors.
If injured, these employees may sue their employers. They will have to prove they were hurt because of the employer's negligence. For example, if the employee was playing catch in the hallways and was injured, or had an attack of appendicitis, these have nothing to do with work and wouldn't be covered. Injuries you sustain while out of town on a business trip are covered. This varies from state to state, however.