If you were performing a task for employer’s benefit and as a result got ill or injured, then this can be defined as work-related, but there are some tricky eligibility requirements. Work-related is a simple term but can get tricky.
Lunch breaks
Generally, if the illnesses or injuries like ankle sprain are occurred during lunch breaks while walking, then you are not covered, but if the injury happened when you were picking up a sandwich for your boss or executive, then your injury will be covered.
If your ankle got sprained in the company’s cafeteria, then you are eligible for workers’ comp benefit. Using company’s cafeteria saves time. You get more time for performing other task, which means use of cafeteria was beneficial to the employer.
Travel
Injury, when you go to and from work is not covered, but there are certain exceptions to this feature. For example, injuries on business trip are covered, but when you go sight-seeing on the trip then take advice from a lawyer.
A sales person with no physical work site may get injured, when they go to meet a customer may probably be covered. If you are driving company vehicle or your employee wants you to use your personal vehicle for job activities, then you get coverage under workers’ compensation benefits.
Company events
Corporate sponsor events like picnics, baseball games or parties and injuries occurred at these occasions are generally covered by workers’ comp.
Misconduct
Workers’ compensation coverage is an agreement between employers and employee. Employees will not litigate their employer, if they get injured at workplace in exchange for workers compensation benefit, regardless of fault. If you broke workplace safety rule like did not wear protective gear and got injured, then your medical bills will be paid by workers’ comp coverage.
Pre-existing conditions
You may have an old health issue, which got aggravated due to your job and resulted in illness or injury, which can possibly get covered. Re-occurrence of an original injury can be eligible for workers’ compensation.
- Hearing loss
Employees working in noisy environments like manufacturing plants or construction sites often suffer from hearing loss, in due course. This injury is eligible for workers’ comp, unless there is some obvious reason for this impairment.
- Mental conditions
Ob related metal conditions are covered. For example, if you witnesses a colleague killed or severely injured on the job, then you may get traumatized. This is compensable under workers’ comp. Depression due to injury at workplace is also covered.
Mental conditions are very hard to prove, so it is advisable to visit accidentandworkinjurylawgroup.com and locate a good attorney from your locality.
- Diseases & illnesses
If your disease is a result from the task you do, then you are entitled for financial gains from workers compensation policy. For example, employees exposed to asbestos can suffer from asbestosis or employees can undergo black lung disease due to inhaling coal dust are eligible to receive workers comp benefits.
These are some tricky gray area and the kinds of scenarios described above are determined in a different way by judges in dissimilar states. Generally, it will depend on specific facts of situation.