There are countless ways for employees to get hurt on the job. People can injure themselves with heavy equipment. They can trip over untied shoelaces and fall. They can end up injured in crashes if they have to drive to perform job functions. Chemical exposure, electrical exposure and countless other risk factors can lead to serious worker injuries.
Every career comes with different risks, and there are also risk factors that are consistent from one profession to another, such as repetitive strain injuries. The state acknowledges these risks by requiring that most employers with three or more employees carry workers’ compensation insurance.
Most workers diagnosed with job-acquired medical conditions have the option of applying for workers’ compensation benefits. Some employees assume that they cannot obtain benefits because they caused their own injuries or contributed to the incident that left them hurt. How much impact can personal fault have on eligibility for workers’ compensation coverage?
Fault usually doesn’t matter after a work injury
The workers’ compensation program in New Mexico provides widespread protection for workers in a variety of different scenarios. Workers’ compensation benefits operate under a no-fault system. Fault does not influence eligibility for coverage or the amount of benefits that people receive.
Employees have no obligation to show that their employers caused their injuries through negligence or regulatory violations. They can receive benefits regardless of who was at fault. They also do not have to worry about losing their benefits or becoming ineligible because their employers can prove that they were to blame for the incident that caused their injuries.
There are a few exceptions to the no-fault rule, but they are relatively unusual. In cases where employers can show that workers were under the influence of drugs or alcohol and that intoxication caused work injuries, they could potentially justify fighting a claim.
Employers could also potentially dispute a worker’s eligibility in scenarios where there is evidence that they injured themselves on purpose. When people hurt themselves due to mistakes, timing errors or similar issues, they can still qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.
Applying for workers’ compensation benefits can be a challenging process. Workers with questions about their rights may need help seeking coverage for their medical expenses and lost wages.