As one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States and across the entire planet, Las Vegas understandably employs far more workers in the hospitality industry than most other cities. What many people outside the hospitality industry might not know, though, is how common it is for people providing food, beverages, accommodations, and recreational services to end up getting hurt or sick in the course of their employment.
Even worse, many workers within the industry are unaware of the rights they may have to seek compensation from their employer after getting injured or ill on the job, or of how vital it can be to seek help from a qualified attorney to enforce those rights. When dealing with an injury or sickness stemming from your work in hospitality services, you should make contacting a Las Vegas hospitality industry workers’ compensation lawyer one of your top priorities. Reach out to the seasoned workers’ comp attorneys at Shook & Stone today to learn about your rights.
Do Hospitality Employees Have Workers’ Comp Coverage?
Under Nevada state law, every company with one or more part-time or full-time employees is required to purchase and maintain workers’ compensation insurance coverage for all of their employees, no matter how long they have been with that company or what type of work they do. Additionally, there are many circumstances under which “licensed contractors” who give employment to “independent contractors” and “subcontractors” not technically categorized as “employees” will still be obligated to provide some kind of industrial insurance or workers’ comp coverage to those workers.
In short, the answer to whether a worker in the Las Vegas hospitality industry has access to workers’ compensation after an on-the-job accident or illness is virtually always “yes”—in some cases, even if their employer has implicitly or explicitly told them they do not. Representation from a seasoned workers’ comp attorney could be key to effectively pursuing this recovery either way, especially in the latter scenario.
Making the Most of a Workers’ Comp Claim
While different plans may provide slightly different benefits, all workers’ comp claimants with valid claims should be eligible for full reimbursement of all “reasonably necessary” medical expenses stemming from their work-related injury or illness. This includes not just emergency care right after that injury or illness first begins but also:
- Prescription medication
- Assistive equipment like wheelchairs
- Long-term rehabilitative and maintenance care
- Anything else necessary to help the covered worker reach maximum medical improvement or MMI
In addition, someone who misses time from work while recovering from a covered injury or illness should be eligible for partial reimbursement of their missed wages, salary, and benefits—something a hospitality industry workers’ compensation lawyer in Las Vegas could help with proactively pursuing. Finally, anyone who suffers a permanent disability or loss of working capacity because they got hurt or sick at work may be eligible to receive permanent partial or total disability benefits.
Get in Touch with a Las Vegas Hospitality Industry Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today
Working in Las Vegas hospitality can be grueling under the best of circumstances, and injuries and illnesses among workers in this industry are more common than many people think. Fortunately, you likely have a right to make your employer—or, more accurately, their workers’ comp insurance provider—pay for your medical bills, cover your lost wages, and provide other benefits in the wake of a work-related accident or illness.
Getting the compensation you deserve could be much easier with help from a Las Vegas hospitality industry workers’ compensation lawyer. Call Shook & Stone today to schedule a free consultation.
