I was Injured Working Remotely at Home – do I Qualify for Workers’ Comp? 4 Things to do Following a Harmful Injury

There’s no question the COVID-19 Pandemic changed the way we work.  In fact, the number of people primarily working remotely from home tripled between 2019 and 2021. 

With more and more of the workforce joining their team remotely, we are still navigating the “new normal” and how it relates to law.

One aspect of the working world that has not drastically changed in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic is workers compensation. 

Workers’ comp is designed to help employees recover lost wages, medical bills, or more after they are injured on the job and cannot work from said injury. 

One might think of common workplace injuries as only happening at a job site. For example, a construction worker who gets their leg caught in a piece of heavy machinery, or a retail employee who falls from a ladder setting up a new display, are common instances. 

In the new world of remote and hybrid jobs, what if an employee is injured while working remotely from home? Do they still qualify for workers compensation?

The short answer is yes. You are still entitled for a potential workers’ compensation claim.

For injuries suffered while working remotely, you would have to verify and prove that your injuries are related to or caused by your job or job tasks.  

Remember, there are two types of injuries related to workers’ comp law: 

• A specific injury that occurs stemming from a particular incident.
• A continuous trauma injury that occurs over a period of time.

Let’s say Elliot falls during their lunch break while walking their dog and tears a muscle in their arm. Elliot will not qualify for workers compensation, as walking their dog was not a required job task.

A more likely claim would be if a piece of equipment Elliot needs to build an object for work fell and broke their foot.

If you are injured while working remotely:

• Call 911 and get medical attention as quickly as possible. This might help prevent the injury from getting worse.
• Document your injury through photos, video, or notes. Having proper documentation may be helpful down the line if you were to file a workers’ comp claim. 
• Notify your employer of the incident. They need to be aware of what happened so they can prepare, especially since you will miss time from work.
• Contact a Los Angeles workers’ compensation attorney 

The lines are still quite blurry regarding remote jobs and workers’ compensation. It’s a very new landscape for employers and employees.

PEW Research Center reports that only 23 percent of workers who can telecommute say they worked remotely prior to the start of the pandemic.

Workers’ comp laws are tricky as is, and working remotely may only complicate them.

Imagine a situation where you develop a serious back injury due to improper ergonomics. Is your work responsible if they do not provide ergonomically sound equipment?

If you were injured while working from home, you may be able to file for workers’ compensation. Contact our LA workers comp lawyers at C&B Law Group today about your case.

With years of practice in workers compensation, we’re experienced in all types of workplace injury cases.

The list of injuries that one may suffer is seemingly endless. Some of the more frequent injuries our workers’ comp attorneys help with on a regular basis include:

• Neck and back injuries that result from slip or falls
• Traumatic Brain Injuries like concussions
• Broken bones and fractures that often stem from a slip or fall
• Cuts and lacerations from sharp objects like glass

The amount you receive in compensation is dependent on various factors. Every case has its own unique set of circumstances. 

Your initial consultation is free, and you won’t owe us a dollar on our services until we win. Contact our lawyers today.