When you get injured on the job, you expect to be covered by workers’ compensation. This is available to workers who are injured in their line of employment so that they can receive at least a portion of their wages. This allows them to make ends meet when they can’t work. They should also have their medical bills covered so that they are not in insurmountable debt.
But many people assume workplace injuries stem from pure accidents where no one was at fault. The reality, however, is that someone usually was at fault for anything that happens in the workplace where another person gets injured. If the person who was at fault is also the injured party, can they still seek compensation? Or are they now ineligible for workers’ compensation because they caused their own injury?
It is a no-fault system
In this hypothetical situation, the individual would still be eligible for workers’ compensation because it is a no-fault system. This means that fault is not considered and doesn’t matter except in extreme situations, such as intentional violence or illegal drug use.
But a common, everyday injury, even when caused by the worker themselves, should still be covered. For instance, a worker could seek compensation after seriously cutting their fingers with a table saw. Even if it was their own fault because they ran the material through the saw improperly and it kicked back, they are still eligible for workers’ compensation since it happened on the job.
If you’ve been injured on the job, make sure you know about all the legal steps you can take to get all of the compensation you deserve.