I Got Hurt During My Company’s Trip – Is that Workers’ Compensation?

 

Many companies have a yearly company trip where alcohol is flowing freely, and judgment can be compromised by a “party” atmosphere.  So, what happens if you get injured during the company trip?  Is your injury covered under workers’ compensation?  If you slip and break your collarbone because you slipped on the hotel’s steps, there are factors which dictate whether this is workers’ compensation or not.  The workers’ compensation laws of North Carolina and South Carolina construe what is in the course of your employment very broadly.

 

Factors that come into play for an injury that occurred at a company outing include:

• Whether the outing was paid for by your employer.
• Whether you were paid wages while on the trip.
• Whether the outing was considered a fringe benefit of your job.
• Whether attendance was mandatory.
• Was the purpose of the outing was to benefit the employer.

 

So, if you have been hurt on the job during a company trip, pick up the phone and call Tippens & Zurosky, so we can be your voice, answer all of your questions, and file your claim!  Tippens & Zurosky has knowledgeable, experienced attorneys who can fight for your rights during this often long and difficult workers' compensation process.  Call us at 704-343-0018, for a free consultation. Let us help you!

My loved one died after they got hurt on the job – is that workers’ compensation?

Workers’ Compensation Related Deaths

Workers’ compensation protects an injured worker if they get injured in the scope of their employment.  Likewise, if an injured worker is killed on the job, workers’ compensation is there to provide benefits for the injured worker’s family.  In cases where a worker was killed in a motor vehicle on the job, or involved in a fatal industrial accident, it is usually fairly clear cut that workers’ compensation is responsible.  But, what happens if an injured worker passes away some time after the accident.  Does that death still fall under workers’ compensation?

If an injured worker is hurt on the job, and has surgery because of this injury, and develops complications from the surgery, and dies that would turn into a workers’ compensation death claim.  Likewise, if an injured worker is recovering from a surgery and suffers an aneurysm, and dies that too would be a workers’ compensation death claim.  The caveat to these cases are the medical professionals involved must be able to say that more likely or not the injured worker’s death was related to the surgery, and the aneurysm respectively.  If they can’t or won’t say, then the burden becomes more difficult to meet.  Expert testimony in the form of a medical professional is necessary to prove the relationship of the death to the original workers’ compensation injury.

If an injured worker suffers a job-related injury, and aggravates a preexisting heart condition, which causing their death, that is also considered to be a compensable workers’ compensation death claim.  Also, if an injured worker receives a compensable injury on the job and because of the pain and suffering becomes so depressed, and/or not in his or her right mind, that he or she commits suicide, that is a compensable workers’ compensation death claim.  As with many aspects of workers’ compensation law, the details of each particular case can be subject to interpretation.

Don’t go at it alone, Tippens & Zurosky is here to serve your auto accident and workers’compensation needs, and has skilled and compassionate attorneys available to answer any and all questions that you might have about your case.  Tippens & Zurosky has represented people involved in auto accidents, or hurt on the job in North Carolina and South Carolina for nearly twenty years.  Let us answer any of your questions regarding any automobile accident, or work-related injury.  Call us toll free at (877) 372-3580, or 704-343-0018 to schedule a consultation so that we may assist you. 

Can undocumented workers get workers’ compensation?

The number of undocumented immigrants working in the United States has been a hot-button issue in recent years. In North Carolina and South Carolina, businesses have relied on undocumented workers to fulfill their employee needs in the areas of agriculture, construction, shipping and receiving, and manufacturing. But what happens when an undocumented worker gets injured on the job? Undocumented workers are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits in North Carolina and South Carolina. But, these workers often feel caught between a rock and hard place in pursuing a workers’ compensation claim.

The threat of deportation may cause an undocumented worker to not report an injury, and risk the job that is providing for their family. But, if the injured undocumented worker does not report the injury, their company, or the workers’ compensation insurance company, will not pay for medical bills, or provide benefits to allow the injured undocumented worker to support his or her family, while they are unable to work due to the workplace injury. Companies save money by hiring undocumented workers in terms of cutting safety costs because they know that undocumented workers are far less likely to report and file for workers’ compensation. The fact remains -- immigration status has no effect on an injured workers’ ability to file and collect workers’ compensation.



Workers’ compensation benefits are for all the workers in North Carolina and South Carolina. If you are an undocumented worker, and get hurt on the job you have rights! Don’t let an unscrupulous company intimidate you into not filing a claim. Companies do what is best for companies, and if you get hurt on the job, you need to do what is best for you! Tippens & Zurosky represents people injured on the job and in automobile accidents in North Carolina and South Carolina. Call us toll-free at 877-372-3580, or at 704-343-0018, for a free consultation. Let us help you!

I Got Hurt During My Company’s Vegas Trip – Is that Workers’ Compensation?

Many companies have a yearly outing to Las Vegas, or another similar destination where alcohol is flowing freely, and judgment is often compromised by a “party” atmosphere.  So, what happens if you get injured during the good times?  Is your injury covered under workers’ compensation?  If you slip and break your collarbone because you slipped on the casino’s marble steps, there are factors which dictate whether this is workers’ compensation or not.  The workers’ compensation laws of North Carolina and South Carolina construe what is in the course of your employment very broadly.

Factors that come into play for an injury that occurred at a company outing include: 

• Whether the outing was sponsored, and paid for by your employer.
• Whether you were paid wages for attending.
• Whether the outing was considered a fringe benefit of employment.
• Whether attendance was mandatory, and whether there would be a penalty for not attending.

And, whether the purpose of the outing was to benefit the employer, such as improving employer/employee relations.

So, if you have been hurt on the job during a company outing, pick up the phone and call Tippens & Zurosky, so we can be your voice, answer all of your questions, and file your claim!  Tippens & Zurosky has knowledgeable, experienced attorneys who can fight for your rights during this often long and difficult workers' compensation process.  Call us toll-free at 877-372-3580, or at 704-343-0018, for a free consultation.  Let us help you!