Do I qualify for Workers Compensation If I’m injured at a company function?
You probably know that you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if you hurt your back while loading boxes at work. However, you wonder if you are eligible for claims if you slip and fall at an employer’s party in Wilmington, NC.
This is a grey area, where the answer depends on your eligibility to file a claim in the first place.
Who is eligible for workers’ compensation in Wilmington, NC?
Four main basic requirements ascertain your eligibility:
1. You must be a company employee
Only employees can claim workers’ compensation while independent workers like freelancers and consultants cannot.
2. Your employer has workers comp insurance
It’s evident that you cannot make any claims if your employer does not offer workers comp insurance coverage in the first place.
3. You report the injury and file your claim in time.
This is perhaps the most important criterion for eligibility. You may end up losing any chance of claiming your workers’ compensation benefits if you are late in the first place.
4. You must have suffered a work-related injury or illness.
Generally speaking, the injury is work-related if you get injured while working for your employer’s benefits. However, things get confusing and challenging to figure out if you get hurt at a company function and not at work.
It is best to let a workers’ compensation attorney handle cases like this rather than try to do so on your own.
Why you need a workers’ compensation lawyer in Wilmington NC
There is a high chance of employers and their workers’ comp insurance company denying your benefits. They argue that you are not eligible for the benefits because it wasn’t a work-related injury. They may also prove their case saying that the injury occurred after work hours or was a consequence of your own fault.
Whatever they may say, don’t give up and take ‘no’ for an answer. It’s the employers and workers comp insurance companies job to deny as many claims as possible.
However, it is your right to consult with a competent workers’ compensation attorney in Wilmington, North Carolina. You have nothing to lose but a lot to gain—your benefits.
How a workers’ compensation lawyer can help you
Your lawyer will first determine the function reason and venue. You may be eligible if your employee had instructed you, or made it a requirement for all company employees, to attend.
Attending the function is considered a part of your job if you were compelled or instructed by your employer to attend it. If this is the case, then you have all the right to claim your benefits.
The best way to find out if you qualify for workers comp benefits if you get injured at an employee party is by talking to an experienced Wilmington, NC workers’ compensation lawyer.
Never assume things, or accept no as an answer.
Contact King Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation at (800) 635-1683