Injuries Covered |
| Employees are entitled to benefits if, while carrying out
activities for the benefit of their employer, they suffer an injury by
accident, a "specific traumatic incident" resulting in a hernia
or back injury, or an "occupational disease." All injuries must
"arise out of and in the course and scope of" the covered
employment to be compensated. An "accident" is an interruption of the regular work routine accompanied by unusual circumstances, such as a slip, trip, fall, or other unusual activity. A "specific traumatic incident," as defined by our courts, includes "injuries that occur during normal work activities." "Injuries that occur gradually, over long periods of time, are not specific traumatic incidents." Generally, an employee is entitled to benefits for disability due to a condition to which the employment significantly contributed or was a significant factor in causing the "occupational disease's" development if the employment exposed the worker to a greater risk of contracting the disease than the general public. Businesses complying with the Act and their employees may not be sued in the Courts by employees for work-related injuries, except for intentional assaults and conditions so grossly unsafe as to make injury substantially certain. However, as an injured employee you may be entitled to compensation under the Act. |