The workers’ compensation laws are meant to help protect workers who are injured at work. Without these laws in place, there is a good chance that people who are hurt while they are working would be left holding the bill for their injuries. As it stands, the employees can turn to the program for compensation that helps to cover some of their wages while they are out of work due to the accident, as well as medical care payments.
Some individuals might not realize exactly what injuries are compensable under the workers’ compensation system. Essentially, any injury that occurs when you are doing your job duties is considered a compensable injury. There are a few exceptions to this, such as when the person who is injured is an independent contractor instead of an employee.
You might think that the injury has to occur on the company’s property. This is a huge misconception that must be dispelled. If you are doing a job duty somewhere other than the company’s property, you can still be compensated. For example, if you are driving to the bank to make the business’ deposit and are injured, workers’ compensation coverage can apply. Injured at a restaurant during a meeting with clients? That’s covered, too.
The injuries that a worker suffers don’t have to be from a single event. Instead, cumulative trauma injuries are also compensable. This includes carpal tunnel syndrome, back injuries, knee trauma and similar injuries. Even some occupational diseases are covered under the workers’ compensation program. The key point here is that they have to be due to you doing your job.
Source: FindLaw, “What Types of Injuries are Compensable Under Workers’ Compensation?,” accessed June 01, 2018
