What Is A Work-Related Injury?
Most Minnesota employers are required to maintain insurance coverage that provides benefits to employees that get hurt on the job. The purpose of this article is to explain what qualifies as being hurt on the job such that workers’ compensation benefits are payable. A medical condition qualifies for workers’ compensation benefits if it “aris[es] out of and in the course of employment.”[1] In other words, a medical condition that was caused by the work environment during work hours qualifies for workers’ compensation benefits.
Multiple Causes: A medical condition that has multiple causes qualifies for workers’ compensation benefits so long as one substantial cause is the work environment. For example, an employee with a history of back pain, who has an onset of worse back pain while lifting a box at work may have sustained a work-related injury. Those facts would suggest that an underlying back condition combined with strain from lifting the box (the work environment) may both have contributed to a medical condition that resulted in more severe back pain.
Repetitive Stress Injuries: Some work-related injuries happen in an instant, while others happen slowly over time. A classic example would be carpal tunnel resulting from extended periods of typing.
Slip/Trip and Falls: Slip or trip and falls in or around the workplace are work-related injuries. In general, a slip or trip and fall in the parking lot outside of work will usually be work-related.
Employee at Fault: An injury resulting from an accident that is the fault of the employee is a payable work-related injury.
Travel: A car accident occurring during travel for a work-related purpose will result in a work-related injury. However, a car accident occurring on the way home from work (or to work from home) will usually not be work-related.
To paint with a broad brush, the questions are: 1) Did the thing that injured me have something to do with work? And 2) Did that thing injure me during work hours? If the answers to both of those questions is “yes,” or “in part,” then there is a good chance that the injury will result in a workers’ compensation claim. If you are unsure whether your injury is work-related, you do not have to take the insurance company’s word for it. LawSmith PLLC will provide you with a legal opinion as to whether your injury is work-related at no cost and no obligation. Request a Free Consultation today!
