With millions of Americans still living under some form of government-mandated stay-at-home order, many of us are working from our homes. At Daspit Law Firm, we have been receiving countless calls from concerned workers who are wondering if they are covered by workers’ compensation insurance for injuries sustained while working at home. Below, we explain what you need to know about filing a claim for a work-from-home injury.

Workers’ Compensation Coverage When Working From Your Home

When you officially clock-in to work from home, it means your home is now technically your workplace. So if you are working at home due to a stay-at-home order, you are covered by the same workers’ compensation insurance that covers you when you show up at an office or worksite. However, workers’ compensation is only in effect when you are actually performing work-related activities. This means that if you injure yourself playing basketball in your backyard, you won’t be covered. But if you are up late working on a project for your employer and sustain an injury, then you are covered by the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance policy.

What Types of Injuries Are Covered?

Since any injury you suffer while engaged in the act of working is covered by workers’ compensation, the primary consideration in these types of cases is whether the injury is actually work-related. However, proving that your occupation caused the injury is much more complicated when it comes to cases where employees are working remotely, especially if the injury in question could have theoretically occurred at home when the employee wasn’t working.

If you are wondering whether an injury is work-related, you should ask the following questions:

• Was your employer benefiting from your actions when the injury occurred?
• Did your employer require you to engage in the injury-causing activity?
• Did your employer approve the off-site activity in advance?

The possibilities and scenarios for work-from-home injuries are endless and go beyond injuries caused by accidents. Employees who work remotely can also develop an injury due to repetitive physical stress, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, or they can aggravate a pre-existing condition, like migraines, due to staring at a computer screen all day.

Reach Out to Our Firm Today If You Have Questions

At Daspit Law Firm, our compassionate lawyers understand that between medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses, workplace injuries can put individuals and families in a difficult financial position. That is why we operate on a contingency fee basis when we take on worker’s’ compensation cases on behalf of the clients we serve. If you have sustained a work-related injury, whether at home or a different location, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us so we can get started building a strong legal strategy.

Call (888) 273-1045 today to schedule a free case consultation.