The majority of employers are required by law to carry workers’ compensation insurance. This is used to compensate employees who have been injured on the job and are looking to recover lost wages.
It is a common myth that all work injuries are covered by workers’ compensation. In order to receive compensation, the injury must be connected with an employment condition or requirement: For example, a person who broke a leg after falling from a ladder that was being used in relation to their job.
FindLaw explains a work injury as follows:
“A work-related injury is one that happened while you were doing something on behalf of your employer or otherwise in the course of employment. Most injuries that can be classified as work-related are those that occur at the workplace, but also may occur in company-owned trucks and other locations as long as the employee was doing something connected to his or her job.”
There is a lot of gray area associated with workplace injuries and workers’ compensation. This can include but is not limited to injuries that occur while a person is on a break, or those that result from fooling around.
It is good practice for all employees to be as cautious as possible, doing their best to avoid any type of work injury. Even so, there are always dangers lurking, especially in high risk industries, such as construction.
If a person is injured on the job, he or she hopes to collect workers’ compensation to make up for lost wages. In the event of a denied claim, it may be time to consult with an attorney.
Source: FindLaw, “What Types of Injuries are Compensable Under Workers’ Compensation?” accessed Jan. 26, 2015