What does case law provide in the context of workers' compensation statutes?

Case law is essential in the context of workers' compensation statutes as it offers interpretation and direction for applying the law. This means that courts' decisions on previous cases help define how statutes are understood and implemented. Through case law, legal precedents are established, which can guide claims adjusters and practitioners in navigating complex legal scenarios they may encounter in their work.

While broader context for medical claims or examples of compliance issues may indeed stem from case law, the primary function of case law in the legal system revolves around interpreting statutes and setting guidelines for future cases. Regulations on claim reporting, on the other hand, are typically defined by statutory provisions rather than interpretations of those statutes through case law. Thus, understanding the case law's role helps claims adjusters better understand how to handle specific claims based on established judicial interpretation.