BLOG RE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

On Friday, April 25, 2014, I was invited by the Civil Justice Foundation of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association to speak at a seminar about Independent Contractors and workers’ compensation. If your employer classifies you as an independent contractor, rather than as an employee, you might not be able to collect workers’ compensation benefits for a work related injury, if that classification is found to be accurate.

By statute, there must exist an employer-employee relationship at the time of injury or the Workers’ Compensation Act does not apply. Without that relationship, a workers’ compensation commissioner would not be able to award you benefits. That relationship can be challenged at any time by your employer. Whether or not you can prove that you were an employee at the time of your injury will depend on the facts of your case, as determined by a compensation commissioner. Misclassification of workers as independent contractors, rather than employees, can be a serious problem for an employer.

There are many facts to be considered when determining whether a worker has been properly classified as an independent contractor. If you have been injured on the job and your employer claims that you were not an employee at the time of the injury, give us a call to discuss your case. For more information click here to visit our website.