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Workers' Comp: Are You Covered?

1 September 2016

Mattie Bennett

You likely already know that workers' comp insurance covers most any on the job injury, but there may be some gray areas where you are not completely certain of coverage. Knowing about these situations could mean the difference between paying your own medical bills and being covered for those plus lost wages, so read on to learn more about some work-related injury situations that may be relatively uncommon.

You are very likely covered if:

1. The accident happened away from your regular work site but was sponsored or attendance was required by your employer. For example, you were hit in the head by a softball and suffered a concussion at your company-sanctioned annual picnic in a local park, where bonuses and performance awards were being given out.
2. You must travel on company business. From the time you leave your home until you return, you are covered, unless you extend your trip to include personal vacation time.
3. You are injured while traveling to and from a required training, meeting other event, even if off-site.
4. You have a preexisting condition that worsened due to work-related causes. For example, if you have high blood pressure and experience a stroke due to a high stress job or event at work, you will be covered by workers' comp.
5. You disobey safety rules and have an accident. This one may be surprising, but unless you are found to be under the influence, you are covered for any work-related accident, regardless of whether or not you were violating any safety rules. Of course, you may still be fired from your job for such acts, but you are still entitled to compensation.

You are very likely not covered if:

1. You suffer an injury while on your lunch break. You may have a case if you were fetching lunch for your supervisor, however. Even if you were on company property when the accident occurred, you are probably not covered in most cases. There is an exception for issues like getting food poisoning from your company cafeteria or other rare and unusual occurrences, so speak with an attorney to get more details.
2. You get in a wreck traveling to or from work, unless you were driving a company vehicle.
3. Your injury was very minor. If some ice or a band aid from the first aid box remedies the issue, you are likely not covered. Your injury must be severe enough for you to miss work to qualify for benefits. It's worth noting, however, that if that little cut gets infected and turns into a major illness, you will be covered.
4. You are under the influence of non-prescription drugs or alcohol when the accident occurs. Be prepared to show a prescription for proof if you are challenged.

The above instances show that your ability to be covered under workers' comp can sometimes fall into a gray area. Talk to a workers' comp attorney for more information about your work-related injury.

 

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