What Types of Injuries Are Eligible Under Workers’ Compensation?
In Pennsylvania, employers with more than one employee are required to provide workers’ compensation. The purpose of this type of coverage is to provide an employee injured while performing their job duties with lost wages and payment of their medical bills.
In order for the injury to be covered, it must somehow be related to your job duties. If you are diagnosed with lung cancer after being exposed to toxic chemicals or carpal tunnel syndrome after long hours at a computer or a broken arm after a fall, your employer could be required to cover your lost wages and medical bills under the law.
Work Related Injuries
The first question to ask is whether or not the injury was work-related. You must have been doing something during the course of your employment or while doing something for your employer. Most times, it is easy to determine what types of injuries are eligible.
If you were doing your job and were injured, the injury should be covered. If your job requires you to climb ladders as part of your job, a fall from a ladder that results in injury is a covered injury. If your job requires you to travel between job sites, an automobile accident on your way to or from the site may also be covered.
Questioned Injuries
Under Pennsylvania law, even if you are partially or totally responsible for your injury, you may still be eligible for workers’ compensation. However, if the injury was due to “horseplay” between you and a co-worker, it is possible your injuries may not be covered.
The law is not exact regarding what types of horseplay are covered under workers’ compensation, however. After an injury during horseplay at work, it is important that you contact an attorney as soon as possible to learn what types of injuries are eligible.
During Breaks
If you are injured on your lunchbreak in the office cafeteria or elsewhere on the grounds, it is possible your injuries are covered. The same is true if you are injured during lunch with a client. If you are at a company event with alcohol, an injury may also be covered even though the law does not require an employer to cover alcohol and drug related injuries.
Mental injuries like post-traumatic stress disorder may also be covered under worker’s compensation if it can be proven that the mental injury occurred as a course of your employment.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury at work, contact Lundy Law to learn what types of injuries are eligible. You can arrange for a no obligation consultation by calling 1-800-Lundy Law or complete the easy form on our website.
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