Workers’ Compensation extends to remote employees in Arkansas. That means you may get benefits if you are injured while working from home, provided you submit enough medical records and other information for your employer’s Workers’ Compensation carrier.
Workers’ Compensation may cover your injuries as a remote worker, compensating you for medical expenses or missed time from work. Proving that an employee was injured while working can be more challenging for those working from home, so it is essential to prioritize documenting the injury and informing your employer. Workers’ Compensation should pay all medical expenses associated with an occupational injury, and our attorneys can help you appeal if your benefits claim was denied as a remote worker.
For a free case assessment from our Arkansas Workers’ Compensation lawyers, call (479) 316-0438.
Does Workers’ Comp Cover Remote Workers in Arkansas?
The Workers’ Compensation that your employer has in case of occupational injuries still covers you if you are a remote employee working from home. While proving that your injuries are work-related might be more challenging as a remote worker, it is still possible.
Generally, Workers’ Compensation covers any injury sustained during the course of employment, no matter the employee’s working environment. Some employees work in an office, others are truckers who work in moving vehicles, and others are remote employees who work from their own homes. As long as the injury was sustained while you were on the clock and acting within the scope of your employment, you may be able to file a Workers’ Compensation claim and get benefits.
In Arkansas, any employer with three or more employees to get Workers’ Compensation insurance, even if some or all of their employees work from home. Like any other employee, you should be covered by your boss’s Workers’ Compensation policy from your first day of employment onward.
What Injuries Does Workers’ Comp Cover for Remote Employees?
Employees who work remotely exclusively from laptops and other devices are more likely to sustain specific work-related injuries, especially over time. Developing carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, and other hand and wrist injuries is common and may stop you from working for the time being.
Workers’ Compensation should also cover injuries sustained because of any employer-provided equipment for your work-from-home setup. For example, suppose your employer provided you with a desk chair that subsequently collapsed while you were working at your desk. Your employer’s Workers’ Compensation would have to cover injuries from this work-related accident, such as fractures. Workers’ Compensation may even cover slip and fall injuries while working from home, so ask our lawyers if you qualify.
While Workers’ Compensation will not cover injuries sustained during the course of purely personal activities, you are entitled to brief breaks for your own personal comfort, such as to use the restroom. If you are hurt during one of these momentary breaks, Workers’ Compensation should still cover your injuries.
When Doesn’t Workers’ Comp Cover Remote Worker Injuries?
A Workers’ Compensation carrier might refuse to cover injuries if the claimant cannot prove they were injured during working hours or while they were actively working from home in Arkansas. Since being hurt at work is a fundamental element of any successful Workers’ Compensation claim, you should immediately document an injury when it happens.
Workers’ Compensation also does not cover injuries sustained by an intoxicated remote worker or one who intentionally injures themselves to collect benefits.
Furthermore, Workers’ Compensation doesn’t cover injuries sustained on the way to and from work. This gets complicated when employees work from home, and our attorneys can help if it becomes an issue in your case.
What Damages Does Workers’ Comp Cover for Remote Workers in Arkansas?
There’s no distinction between the medical benefits paid to in-person or remote workers covered by Workers’ Compensation in Arkansas. When your claim is approved, physicians can bill the Workers’ Compensation carrier directly for any reasonable and necessary treatments. Remote workers also get some of their lost wages covered.
Even if you return to work in a limited capacity, Workers’ Compensation should continue to pay all relevant medical damages. Carriers sometimes request updated medical records to confirm ongoing eligibility, and our Bentonville, AR Workers’ Compensation lawyers can assist with this to ensure the carrier continues to pay your medical bills.
Like other employees covered by Workers’ Compensation in Arkansas, remote workers receive only a percentage of their pre-injury wages. Workers get different amounts for temporary partial disability, permanent and partial disability, and total disability, and we can estimate your likely benefit.
What if Workers’ Comp Refuses to Cover Remote Worker Injuries?
Workers’ Compensation carriers sometimes have more leeway to question and deny claims from remote workers. When injured in a manufacturing plant, office building, or other in-person workplace, other employees might witness the accident, there may be surveillance footage, and the worker’s manager might even see their injuries for themselves. Confirming that you have a valid claim as a remote worker can be more challenging. If you were denied Workers’ Compensation benefits for an injury you sustained while working from home, we can help you appeal the decision.
We get appeals by Filing Form AR-C, Claim for Compensation with the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission (AWCC). You will then have a hearing before an administrative law judge, where our lawyers can explain why your remote injuries are covered and undermine the insurer’s reasons for denial.
Don’t get discouraged if your Workers’ Compensation claim is denied as a remote employee. Carriers sometimes deny claims for spelling mistakes or other errors. Let us read the letter you received from the Workers’ Compensation carrier explaining why it denied your benefits. This helps us prepare to appeal the decision to the AWCC as soon as possible.
Call Our Workers’ Comp Attorneys in Arkansas Today
For a free case analysis from our Farmington, AR Workers’ Compensation lawyers, call (479) 316-0438 today.