Maybe you get into a disagreement with one of your coworkers, and instead of talking things out with you, they take a swing at you. You end up losing consciousness and suffering a mild concussion. You have hospital bills in addition to several days of lost wages.
On the other hand, perhaps you were in the middle of your shift at a retail shop when someone came in to rob the place. You ended up injured because they were physically aggressive or used a weapon during the commission of the robbery.
Although the state might bring charges against the person who is violent toward you at your workplace, their prosecution won’t eliminate your hospital bills or replace your lost wages. Can you count on workers’ compensation to cover costs related to workplace violence?
No-fault coverage provides protection in most situations
Every employee in Minnesota should be able to rely on workers’ compensation after they get hurt at work. The no-fault benefits available through workers’ compensation apply to just about every scenario. It doesn’t matter that someone other than your employer is to blame for your injuries.
All that matters is that you suffered an injury because of your employment and that you have medical bills or lost wages that have affected you financially. Workers’ compensation might pay for all of your treatment costs and replace up to two-thirds of your lost wages depending on how long you are out of work.
In fact, Minnesota even covers the mental health services workers may require if they develop post-traumatic stress disorder or similar mental health issues as the result of an injurious incident in the workplace.
You may have grounds for a lawsuit as well
Acts of interpersonal violence are a violation of Minnesota law. In addition to criminal prosecution, the person who attacked you or robbed the business where you work could have civil liability for their actions.
You may be able to bring a personal injury lawsuit against them and request damages. Anything that insurance won’t cover, such as the remainder of your lost wages and property damage you experienced, could be part of that civil lawsuit.
Holding the right people accountable and pursuing workers’ compensation benefits when you get hurt at work can help minimize the financial hardship cause by workplace violence.