{"id":377259,"date":"2016-11-17T15:42:19","date_gmt":"2016-11-17T20:42:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/west-virginia-law\/west-virginia-workers-compensation-laws.html"},"modified":"2018-12-11T14:45:43","modified_gmt":"2018-12-11T19:45:43","slug":"west-virginia-workers-compensation-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/west-virginia-law\/west-virginia-workers-compensation-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"West Virginia Workers’ Compensation Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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West Virginia Workers' Compensation Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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West Virginians enjoy their time living among the Appalachian Mountains and driving through scenic highways. Breathtaking views of mountains and lakes certainly make West Virginia a state of tranquil, natural beauty. Imagine that while you’re living the peaceful life in West Virginia, you get into an accident at work one day, and you’re unable to get back to to your job because of your injuries. What should you do? What right do you have to compensation? Read on to learn about West Virginia workers’ compensation laws and its procedure to obtain benefits for your injuries.<\/p>\r\n

What Is Workers’ Compensation?<\/h2>\r\n

"Workers’ compensation" is a form of employer insurance<\/a> that provides benefits to injured employees. Every state has its own workers’ compensation laws and system of handling the insurance coverage and claims. In West Virginia, employers with at least three employees are required by law to maintain workers’ compensation insurance coverage. The Offices of Insurance Commissioner of West Virginia<\/a> handles the rules of practice and procedure regarding workers’ compensation in West Virginia.<\/p>\r\n

Types of Injuries Covered in West Virginia<\/h2>\r\n

West Virginia allows you to recover benefits regardless of who was at fault. To receive the benefits, the work-related injury or occupational illness must have happened while you were on the job or doing something in the course of employment. However, if you were intoxicated or using drugs at the time of your injury, or if your injury was self-inflicted, you won’t be able to receive benefits under your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance.<\/p>\r\n

Employees who develop occupational diseases in the course of and resulting from employment are also entitled to workers’ compensation as well. Some examples of occupational illnesses<\/a> are:<\/p>\r\n