Attorney Brenda Moses discusses the types of injuries covered by workers’ compensation.
While some occupational diseases are covered, most people are hurt through accidental injuries. To be covered under workers’ compensation, the injury must have occurred as a result of your employment and be sudden and accidental. In Virginia, it is your responsibility to know how you got hurt – what you tripped over, what fell, whatever it was that happened. In general, repetitive type injuries are not covered (there are limited exceptions for hearing loss and carpal tunnel syndrome). This means that if your injury occurred slowly over time it probably would not be covered, even if it occurred over the course of a day. Whether an injury falls under “workers’ compensation” is often challenged by the insurance carriers, so speaking with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney can be helpful.