No. There is no requirement you be hurt at your usual place of employment to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits in Ohio. However, your injury must be work-related regardless of where it occurred.
Was Your Injury Work Related?
A work-related injury is one that happened while you were fulfilling the duties of your job or while on company property. This includes not only work accidents that happen in your office or on your jobsite, but also injuries that occur while you are:
- Traveling for your job. This does not include your regular commute, which is excluded under Ohio’s “going and coming” rule, but it could include running a work-related errand or traveling to another site as part of your work day.
- Attending an off-site meeting or appointment. If you are hurt while attending a meeting or working at a site other than your usual place of business, your injury may be considered work related.
- Attending a job-related social event. If you are hurt at the company holiday party, a company picnic, or a dinner with clients, your claim may be covered by workers’ compensation if your attendance was logically related to your employment.
- Parking lot accidents. If you are in a car accident or fall in the parking lot, and the parking lot is owned by the employer, your injuries are compensable. If the parking lot is not owned by your employer, your injuries may still be covered by workers' compensation.
- Injuries while on a lunch break. If you are injured while “off-duty” but still on work property, your injuries will be covered. If you are having lunch somewhere off property—or are on your way to or from lunch—your injuries will not be covered.
Make Sure Your Rights Are Protected
If you are hurt somewhere other than your usual work location or while you are on a break, a dispute may arise about whether you were hurt in a work-related event. This could affect your recovery of workers’ compensation benefits in Ohio. Accordingly, contact an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer who can make sure that you get the benefits to which you are legally entitled. To learn more, contact our legal team and download a complimentary copy of our book, The Worker’s Guide to Injury Compensation in Ohio.
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