Ask an expert: Should I report getting hurt at work, even if I was injured while playing around?

Answer: Yes. You should report the injury AND tell the truth about how it occurred – even if you know the injury is totally your fault. In North Carolina, the workers’ comp rules require you to have an injury by accident during a break in a worker’s normal routine in order for you to qualify for benefits. It does not matter if the injured worker caused his own accident. If for example, a worker is running in the hallway despite regulations that require her to walk and she falls and hurts her knee, she should still definitely report her fall and she is eligible for compensation.

In North Carolina, injuries from horseplay on the job are covered by workers’ comp. However, many workers fall into the trap of thinking that because they may be at fault or they were not in the process of doing their regular job, they should not alert their employers. But the opposite is true! In one recent case, the worker was on a business trip when she was injured trying to ride down the railing of an escalator. Even though the worker caused the accident and was not doing her actual job duties when the accident occurred, she was still covered by workers’ comp.

Have more questions? Want to talk to a workers’ compensation expert? Call CJG or use the contact form on the right side of the page.

You can also request a free copy of Valerie Johnson’s guide for injured workers, Workers’ Comp 101: Lessons You Need to Learn Before It’s Too Late using the contact form on the right side of your screen. Valerie is an expert in the field as well as the editor of a workers’ comp textbook.