The Arizona law requires all public and private employers with at least one worker to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ insurance helps employees who have sustained work-related illness, or injuries recover medical expenses, lost wages among other costs. It also compensates the surviving family members of employees who die because of work-related injuries or illness.
The kinds of injuries and illness covered by workers’ compensation are those that are tied in one way or another to an employment condition or requirement. These may include:
- Aggravations of pre-existing conditions
- Head & brain injuries
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Back, neck or head injuries
- Knee injury
- Foot & ankle injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Bulging disk injuries
- Lung cancer
This list is by no means exclusive. It’s crucial for injured individuals to consult with a knowledgeable and skilled Phoenix workers’ compensation attorney to gain a full insight regarding their case. This article will discuss the types of workers’ compensation injuries and illnesses:
Work-related injuries
A work-related injury is one that occurs in the course of employment – or rather, while one was doing something in place of their employer. A majority of injuries and illnesses that can be categorized as work-related are ones that happen within the work environment. However, the injuries may also occur on transit in trucks that are owned by the company or in other locations, provided one is doing something that’s linked to the company’s work. This can be during the company’s events or parties in hotels or any other place that’s not owned by an employer.
For instance, a company-sponsored dinner party at a restaurant would be considered a work-related endeavor; so any injury that arises during such an occasion could be paid for by the workers’ compensation. However, if one decides to go out with their manager for a cup of coffee, and happens to get hurt while they are at out, that wouldn’t be considered a work-related injury because it’s not an official capacity.
Work-related injuries that are covered by workers’ compensation insurance can also consist of those that arise from “horseplay” or other cases where workers fail to pay attention to workplace safety rules.
An injury that happens during lunch breaks may also be considered work-related if it occurs on employer-owned grounds, at the company’s cafeteria or any other place that’s linked to the employment course (like lunch with a prospect at a hotel). An injury may also be termed as work-related if there was alcohol that was offered at a job-sponsored event.
Mental issues (like depression or anxiety) may be compensated if they occurred as a result of work-related matters. One may also be covered if they had a preexisting issue in the same place as the previous injury. However, since insurance companies are going to have a strong argument regarding this, it is best for one to have a good workers’ employer lawyer.
Are you an employee?
While the state of Arizona requires for employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance, this cover does not include every worker. Only those who are categorized as “employees” are entitled to the workers’ compensation. The state laws also include illegal immigrant workers in the coverage.
