Unusual Work Injuries Leading to Workers’ Compensation Claims

 Posted on February 05, 2019 in Workers' Compensation

Workers' compensation exists to protect workers after an accident, or circumstance, that causes them to be injured and prevents them from returning to work temporarily or permanently. In the case of an injury which occurred while an employee was working or because of their work, an employer’s workers’ compensation insurance pays for any medical bills and provides compensation for lost wages due to disability. 

In 2017, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 2.8 million injuries by private employees that did not result in death. Common industries with a high volume of workers’ compensation claims are construction, labor, and retail. While many injuries fell into the expected categories, such as slip and fall accidents, there were a number of unusual claims in which workers received benefits, including:

• Company Time - In Austria, a woman received workers’ compensation after getting injured on a work trip. The catch is that she was having sex in a hotel room, and a light fixture injured her nose and mouth. After developing depression, the woman filed for workers’ compensation for physical and emotional injuries. Her employer’s insurance company initially accepted the claim but later rejected it, stating that her bedroom activities were not part of a standard work trip. In 2012, a federal court ruled in the woman’s favor, and she received an undisclosed amount of benefits.
• Mystery Liquid - A woman working in an American fast food restaurant accidentally drank lye, a high alkaline solution, out of a cup sitting in the break room. The woman received third degree burns to her esophagus. She received workers’ compensation for the injury. Her doctor stated that after reaching a maximum recovery, she sustained a 65 percent permanent disability. The legal team behind the restaurant wanted to meet with the doctor, and in 2012, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that employers can demand information from doctors in regards to workers’ compensation claims. 
• Under the Influence - A Montana man was mauled by a grizzly bear while working at an outdoor adventure park. The man was doing his job, feeding the bears, but his employer denied his eligibility for workers’ compensation because he had smoked marijuana that morning. The owner also claimed that the man was not an employee, but a volunteer who he gave money to periodically. The use of marijuana was found to have no relation to the bear attack, and the man was awarded enough money to cover his medical expenses. 

Contact an Aurora Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Whether your work injury is fairly typical or out of the ordinary, it is your right to claim workers’ compensation benefits. Contact an experienced Kane County workers’ comp lawyer to learn about your options. We work to provide solutions, no matter your situation. Call our office at 630-907-0909 to schedule a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.bls.gov/news.release/osh.nr0.htm

http://www.cracked.com/quick-fixes/5-bizarre-workers-comp-claims-that-were-actually-successful/