What Kind of Injuries Does Worker’s Compensation Cover?

Have you been injured on the job?  If so, you may be entitled to worker’s compensation.

Worker’s compensation is a type of insurance available to employees of a company when they’re injured on the job.  It can include wage replacement for missed days of work, or medical care expenses resulting from the injury.

Are there specific types of injures that worker’s comp covers?

Not necessarily.  If you think you may be denied compensation because of your unique situation, this woman’s case may change your mind:

Laura O’Rourke was stabbed multiple times in the throat and chest by her son.  A court ruled that she was entitled to compensation.

O’Rourke was the caregiver for her 33-year-old son, Joshua Gartland.  She was working as his caregiver under a state-paid contract. Gartland suffered from major health issues due to a “long history of drug problems” and an amputated leg.

In April of 2009, Gartland was living with O’Rourke in her Westmoreland County home with her and her husband. Gartland crept into O’Rourke’s bedroom as she was sleeping and attempted to kill her with a 12-inch kitchen knife. O’Rourke’s husband stopped the attack.

O’Rourke sought worker’s compensation for physical and psychological damages she claimed she received from the attack.  These damages included post-traumatic stress disorder, which disabled her.

After some struggles in court and some appeals, the court awarded O’Rourke worker’s compensation due to the business relationship between her and Gartland and the requirements of the state-paid contract for the two to live under the same roof.