Workers’ compensation in Massachusetts is essentially a compromise between workers and employers. When workers get hurt at work, they are entitled to be compensated for their medical bills and missed time from work. Such compensation is paid even without a showing of fault on the part of the employer. In exchange, workers cannot sue their employer in court for their injuries. This protects employers from litigation.
All employers in Massachusetts are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance for their employers. Sometimes, the insurance carrier may contest your claim(s). In that event, you must go to the DIA (Department of Industrial Accidents) to contest the denial of the insurance carrier to pay you workers’ compensation benefits. The DIA is not a regular court. Rather, it is an administrative agency set up by the State to arbiter disputes between employees and workers’ compensation carriers. I have a link to the DIA website on this blog for your convenience under "useful resources."