In an earlier blog, we looked at the requirements for eligibility for workers’ compensation disability benefits in New Jersey—you must have been hurt and the injury must have been sustained during the course of your employment. In that blog, we looked at your eligibility if you were on a break, or if you were traveling for work. Here are a couple other situations where there may be issues about workers’ compensation coverage.
Injuries Suffered at a Company Sponsored Event
It’s pretty common for a company to have a golf outing, team-building event or some other offsite excursion. What happens if you suffer a serious injury while at a company event? As a general rule, whether attendance is voluntary or mandatory, you have the right to pursue workers’ compensation benefits if you are injured at a company event. For example, if you are hit by a cart, club or ball at a golf outing, you should be able to recover, provided you weren’t engaged in unreasonable behavior at the time. If, for example, you became intoxicated and fell, you might not be able to obtain workers’ compensation benefits, unless you can show that the company provided the alcohol.
Injuries Caused by Your Own Wrongful Conduct
As a general rule, workers’ compensation benefits are no-fault benefits—they are paid regardless of whether you can show negligence. There is an exception, however, when your behavior is knowingly and clearly in violation of known company policy or safety guidelines, or when your injuries are intentionally self-inflicted.
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At the Cintron Firm, LLC, we offer more than 14 years of experience to people in New Jersey facing a broad array of legal challenges. Attorney Mark Cintron has worked as a prosecutor and has extensive courtroom experience, so he’s always ready, willing and able to protect your interests before a judge or jury. Contact our office online or call us at 201-791-1333 or (201) 535-0323 to set up an appointment.