The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has upturned a lot of how we live our everyday lives. Given how many people are likely to be affected by the virus, some may wonder whether or not coronavirus is covered by workers’ compensation.
Here’s some information for you to consider.
Diseases and workers’ compensation
Whether or not coronavirus would be covered by workers’ compensation would depend on how the employee in question contracted the disease. In most cases, contraction of the virus will not be considered a work-related condition, as workers compensation insurance is designed to compensate people for losses due to injuries or illnesses “arising out of or in the course of employment.”
However, there are some people for whom direct exposure to the virus will be a part of their employment, particularly first responders, nurses, doctors and other people working in medical settings. These organizations will have a number of stringent protocols in place to minimize risk and identify exposure, but these measures will not be without fault. In such cases, workers’ compensation would likely cover employees who, by the nature of their jobs, are likely to come into contact with the disease.
Ultimately, all workers’ compensation claims are analyzed on a case-by-case basis. If you have any reason to believe you were exposed to the virus as a direct result of your work, it is important for you to work with an attorney to build a case that will maximize your chances of receiving compensation.
For more information about the steps you should take when filing a workers’ compensation claim and whether or not you could be compensated for losses due to coronavirus, contact an experienced Bradenton, FL workers’ compensation lawyer at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez & Walsh.