Workers Compensation for law firms
Provides mandatory coverage for employee medical expenses and lost wages when workplace injuries or illnesses occur.
Overview
Workers compensation insurance covers medical treatment, rehabilitation costs, and a portion of lost wages for employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses. It also provides death benefits to dependents of employees killed on the job. In exchange for these guaranteed benefits, employees generally give up the right to sue the employer for workplace injuries. Workers compensation is mandatory in nearly every state for any firm with employees, and failure to carry coverage can result in severe penalties including personal liability for firm partners and criminal prosecution.
Why it matters for law firms
While law office work may seem low-risk, repetitive stress injuries, slip-and-fall incidents, and ergonomic injuries are common in office environments. Attorneys and staff who travel for depositions, court appearances, or client meetings face additional exposure during transit. Beyond the legal mandate, workers compensation protects the firm from potentially devastating direct lawsuits by injured employees who could otherwise seek full tort damages.
Typical Limits
Workers compensation benefits are set by state statute and are not subject to policy limits for the Part A (statutory) coverage. Part B, employers liability coverage, typically carries limits of $100,000 per accident, $500,000 disease policy limit, and $100,000 disease per employee. Firms operating in multiple states need coverage compliant with each jurisdiction. Experience modification factors based on the firm's claims history directly affect premium calculations.
Common questions about workers compensation
Review your workers compensation coverage
Find out if your current workers compensation meets best practices for your firm size and practice areas.