If your employer doesn’t have workers’ compensation insurance or you were injured on the job during a period your employer wasn’t insured, you can sue them for unlimited damages in civil court through a personal injury lawsuit.
Personal injury lawsuits and workers’ compensation claims differ in whether fault must be proved and what compensation you’re able to receive. The latter mostly covers lost wages, medical bills, and similar costs while the former allows you to recoup additional damages for issues such as pain and suffering.
If uninsured, your employer may be fined or charged with a misdemeanor or felony.