Workers’ compensation insurance laws and requirements for employers vary from state to state, but private employers can generally choose whether to carry workers' compensation insurance coverage. A workers' compensation insurance policy provides lost wages and medical benefits to employees injured on the job—and death benefits for the spouse and dependents (children) of a worker who dies in a work-related accident.

Under workers’ compensation laws in many states employers who subscribe to workers’ compensation insurance receive a significant legal protection—they cannot be sued by an injured employee (or the estate of a deceased employee) unless the employer was grossly negligent (more negligent than simple, ordinary negligence).

In other words, if an employer has workers’ compensation insurance, that is usually the exclusive remedy for an injured employee (known as the exclusive remedy provision in the statute), and the insurance coverage bars an injured employee from suing the employer (known as the workers’ compensation bar).

An employer who does not purchase or subscribe to workers’ compensation insurance is known as a nonsubscriber. Workers’ compensation laws are usually located in a state’s statutes.

In Wyoming, workers' compensation insurance is mandatory for most employers, with very few exceptions. The state operates under a no-fault system, which means that employees are entitled to receive workers' compensation benefits for work-related injuries or illnesses regardless of who was at fault. These benefits include medical expenses, lost wages, and death benefits for dependents of workers who die as a result of their employment. In return for providing these benefits, employers are generally protected from being sued by employees for workplace injuries, as the workers' compensation system is typically the exclusive remedy. This is known as the exclusive remedy provision. However, if an employer fails to carry the required workers' compensation insurance, they are considered a nonsubscriber and lose the legal protections provided by the workers' compensation system, which may expose them to civil lawsuits by injured employees. It's important for employers in Wyoming to comply with the state's workers' compensation insurance requirements to avoid legal and financial risks.