Criminal activity is a serious workplace safety issue. No sector of the economy is completely free from criminal threats. In the retail sector, businesses need to worry about shoplifting and robberies, as well as burglaries, where would-be thieves hide in the store until after it closes for the night to access the space without employees present.
Teachers and health care professionals, as well as law enforcement professionals, are at risk of interpersonal violence. The same is true of anyone who works directly with the public. Even other employees can break the law and harm people who just want to do their jobs.
Criminal activity in the workplace may target one person or may target the business in general. In either scenario, the professionals working when the crime occurs could be at risk of injuries. An assault involving brute force or a weapon could lead to hospitalization for a professional. Even a retail worker knocked down by a fleeing thief could sustain major injuries. How do professionals hurt due to criminal activity cover their losses?
Workers’ compensation can help
Workers’ compensation can provide no-fault coverage for professionals. Regardless of who is to blame for an on-the-job injury, workers’ compensation benefits can help pay for medical care and cover lost wages.
Employees hurt by an assault or an attempted theft can report the matter to management. They can rely on workers’ compensation to pay for their treatment expenses. Unlike health insurance, workers’ compensation does not make an injured professional responsible for any of their care costs. If the professional requires an extended leave of absence or acquires permanent injuries, they may be eligible for disability benefits.
In some cases, injured workers may also have the option of holding the criminal who injured them personally responsible. However, that requires litigation and is an entirely separate matter from the workers’ compensation claims process.
If authorities cannot identify the criminal or if the person responsible for criminal activity lacks the resources to compensate the people they injure, pursuing a workers’ compensation claim is potentially the only option available to an injured professional. Workers’ compensation can provide basic support regardless of fault, which can prove invaluable for professionals injured in the workplace.
Discussing a recent work injury with a workers’ compensation attorney could help an injured professional understand their options. Employees who have support during workers’ compensation claims can learn about their rights and optimize the benefits they receive.