There are many hazards that can lead to significant workplace injuries. Professionals who work in proximity to heavy machinery are at risk of injuries caused by contact with equipment or machinery malfunctions. Those in the industrial sector could be vulnerable to illnesses caused by chemical exposure.
Some people drive vehicles regularly, making collisions a workplace safety concern. Many professionals even develop repetitive strain injuries from performing the same job functions every day for years. All of these common incidents could make a worker eligible for workers’ compensation. Professionals in any sector could also end up injured due to agitated members of the public or an unstable co-worker.
Are those injured by violence in the workplace eligible for workers’ compensation?
Violence can make workers eligible for benefits
When people talk about workplace safety, assaults and other violent incidents may not seem like a major concern. However, violence in the workplace is an issue in many different professions.
Teachers and educational support professionals could be at risk of students becoming aggressive. Security professionals could get struck by those trying to force their way into a venue or out of a business after shoplifting. Medical workers are vulnerable when patients become unstable and violent.
People hurt on the job can theoretically request workers’ compensation benefits regardless of the underlying cause of their injuries. While employers cannot necessarily predict and prevent every possible source of workplace violence, fault does not govern eligibility for benefits.
Although the violent individual is technically the party to blame for an assault, workers’ compensation coverage can help the injured professional limit their losses. Workers’ compensation can cover treatment expenses, including urgent care or emergency room visits and any follow-up treatment necessary for a full recovery.
Workers injured in acts of violence on the job may be eligible for disability benefits if they require leave until they recover. In some cases, those hurt in a violent incident on the job might be able to pursue workers’ compensation benefits while simultaneously seeking compensation from the person who injured them.
Reviewing the circumstances surrounding a violent incident on the job with a skilled legal team can help professionals evaluate their options. Workers’ compensation benefits provide a critical first line of defense against the financial impacts that workplace violence can have on professionals.