What happens if a worker dies when their case is still open?
A number of things can happen if a worker dies while their case is still open. If the death is causally related, meaning that the industrial injury directly or indirectly caused the death, survivors can continue to get benefits for as long as required by the law.
However, if the death was not related to or caused by the injury, benefits will likely be terminated. This is because the only compensation in a workers comp claim is lost wages. If the worker is deceased, they wouldn’t be able to work anyways. Thus, no lost wages exist.
In any case, survivors should check with an attorney to see what their rights and options are.
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