Is Your Illness or Injury Covered by Workers Comp?
Even if you know what to do if you get hurt at work to better your chances of a successful workers compensation claim, you may not be completely sure what injuries qualify you for workers comp benefits.
As a general rule, injuries don’t have to be caused by a specific accident. Claims range from sudden injuries to repetitive motion injuries to psychological stress. As long as you can prove your condition is work-related, it’s likely you’ll have a strong workers compensation claim.
What Injuries Are Considered Work-Related?
Usually, any injury that can be connected to your work will be covered under workers comp, as long as it happened in connection to employment duties. For instance, if you’re a visiting occupational therapist, you might be covered for a fall in a patient’s home but not necessarily when driving from house to house.
Though many cases have stretched the definition of being in the course of employment over the years, there are still times when the court will set limits on what’s considered work-related, so it’s crucial to consult good workers compensation attorneys if you’re worried your case may be outside the norm.
What if I’m Partially at Fault?
Usually, workers can’t be found at fault for work-related injuries, even if the worker was injured because of careless. Injuries caused by intoxication or fighting may be denied for claims in some states, but intoxication that didn’t cause the injury won’t cause your case to be dropped.
Workers compensation attorneys can help you navigate these tricky guidelines, especially since restrictions on claims related to employee conduct change from state to state. Even if something you did caused the injury, it’s likely that a good lawyer will be able to get a court to side with you anyway.
What Other Conditions are Covered by Workers Comp?
Repetitive motion injuries like carpal tunnel are usually covered, and more and more stress-related injuries and emotional illnesses are being covered as well. Though not all states recognize stress-related conditions, all may require your employer to accommodate you at work. Occupational illnesses and worker death are also covered in most states.
Look into workers compensation attorneys in your area if you’re still not sure you have a case.