Who is entitled to filing for a workers’ compensation claim?

The correct choice is that employees who suffer injuries or illnesses arising out of their employment are entitled to file for a workers’ compensation claim. This is a fundamental principle of the California Workers' Compensation system, designed to provide wage replacement and medical benefits to workers who are injured in the course of their job duties.

In this context, the system is specifically tailored to protect employees, recognizing the relationship between workplace activities and the health of individuals engaged in them. It ensures that those who face work-related injuries or illnesses have access to necessary resources to recover and continue their livelihoods.

Self-employed individuals typically do not qualify under the same workers' compensation guidelines since they are often not considered employees of any employer. Similarly, independent contractors usually operate under different agreements and may not have the same entitlements as standard employees, depending on specific circumstances and labor laws. Employers, while they may face workplace hazards, cannot file claims in the same sense since the workers’ compensation system is designed to protect employees from the risks associated with their jobs rather than the employers themselves.