As an employee, it's helpful to know that if you are injured at work, you have workers compensation to provide compensation for you. Of course, this is only if your injury applies. There are certain injuries that you are not able to receive coverage for, but more often than not, people are more unaware of what injuries they actually can receive coverage for, which is why so many people miss out on compensation because they don't believe it qualifies.
What's Covered:
- Injuries Off-Site: While this only pertains to those who are still on the clock when the injury was sustained, most people don't realize that this is even possible in the first place. If you are driving the company car, for example, to meet with a client and are injured in a car crash, you are eligible for workers compensation, and yes, this is even true if you were the person at fault for the car accident in most states (unless, of course, you were driving under the influence).
- Occupational Long-Term Conditions: Workers who have suffered from a condition that has long-term effects can even be eligible for compensation through workers compensation. This is, of course, if it can be proven. These conditions include chronic headaches from exposure to chemicals, carpal tunnel, and more. This could even include long-term mental effects that need treatment, such as PTSD.
What's Not Covered:
- First-Aid Injuries: Any kind of injury that only needs some first-aid treatment, such as a one-time headache that does not have chronic effects, a scratch and more will not be covered unless it has some serious need for medical treatment that is more extensive than first-aid care.
- Your Commute: Whether you are injured while getting ready for work or driving to work, this is not within the scope of being under working conditions, therefore it would not be covered through a workers compensation claim. It's only while you are performing work duties outside of work, not the simple commute or getting ready for the work day. This also includes being out to lunch, in which injuries during this time would not be included under coverage for workers compensation.
These are general guidelines for what is and is not covered through workers compensation. However, every situation has it's own complexities that may be rewarded for workers compensation and this even includes it's own state's rules. Talking with a workers compensation lawyer is the best way to determine whether or not filing a workers compensation claim is worth it in your case.
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