If you were injured in the workplace, you’ll probably have had to take time off work on order to recover, and as a result you have probably lost wages. You may have also needed to pay medical bills when getting treatment. If this is the case, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation.
Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that almost all employers in the country are legally required to possess. It is designed to protect workers from the financial strains associated with work injuries. However, not all injuries that occur in the workplace are covered. The following is an overview of the situations in which you may be entitled to workers’ compensation after an injury at work.
You should have been engaging in work-related activities
In order to successfully gain workers’ compensation for an injury that took place at work, you should be able to show that you were engaging in work-related activities at the time. This could have been a situation in which you were engaging in work at your desk and suffered a neck strain, an injury that you suffered while operating machinery, or a car crash you were involved in when making a work delivery.
It is OK to be at fault
As long as you can show that you were engaging in a work-related activity at the time of the accident, it does not matter if you were at fault. For example, if you accidentally misused equipment or forget certain safety wear, you should still be eligible.
It’s not OK to have been engaging in horseplay
Horseplay is the act of engaging in foolish activities while at work. For example, if you were pulling a prank on your coworker and were injured as a result, this will count as horseplay and you will not be eligible for workers’ compensation.
If you have been injured at work but you are unsure whether you will be able to make a successful claim, it is important that you take action to understand how the law will apply to you.