If an employee is injured on the job and the employer has not purchased WC Coverage, what can the employee do?

When an employee is injured on the job and the employer has not purchased Workers' Compensation (WC) coverage, one of the primary legal recourses available to the employee is to bring a civil lawsuit against the employer. In such situations, the employee retains the right to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering through the courts.

This option is grounded in the legal concept that when an employer fails to comply with mandated workers' compensation insurance requirements, they can be held liable for workplace injuries beyond the limitations typically established by the workers' compensation system. Consequently, this lawsuit can pursue damages that the workers' compensation system usually limits.

The other options do not effectively address the employer's negligence in obtaining the required coverage. Seeking benefits from federal programs typically does not apply to state workers' compensation issues; reporting to the local health department doesn't pertain to compensation for work-related injuries; and filing for unemployment benefits is not appropriate for an employee who is still able to seek compensation for an injury sustained at work. Thus, pursuing a civil lawsuit represents the most viable option for an employee under these circumstances.