If an independent contractor hires workers for a job and one worker is injured with no Workers’ Compensation, what recourse does the injured worker have?

The correct choice highlights a critical aspect of Workers’ Compensation laws and the rights of injured workers. In general, when an independent contractor hires workers for a job, those workers are typically considered employees under the Workers’ Compensation system. If an injury occurs and the employer (in this case, the contractor) does not have Workers’ Compensation coverage, the injured worker may seek compensation for their injuries through a civil lawsuit against the contractor.

However, the scenario presented leads to a misunderstanding about the rights associated with pursuing Workers’ Compensation. If the contractor does not have coverage, the injured worker does have recourse; they can potentially claim compensation through legal action, reflecting the importance of establishing employer liability. While the ideal path would be to access Workers' Compensation benefits directly, the absence of such coverage forces the worker to seek alternative avenues for recovery, such as pursuing damages in court.

Thus, the notion that the injured worker has rights to claim benefits under Workers’ Compensation when the contractor lacks coverage isn’t accurately representative of the law; rather, they would rely on other legal means for compensation. The other responses provide various scenarios, but this choice encapsulates the idea of the available legal recourse in the absence of proper Workers’ Compensation coverage.