WORK-RELATED INJURY AND DRUG AND ALCOHOL/SAFETY VIOLATIONS

WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND SAFETY VIOLATIONS

If you violate a company safety policy and you are injured as a result, your workers' compensation benefits may be reduced by 25 to 50 percent depending on the severity of the violation.

For example, if your company requires you to wear protective eyewear and you fail to do so, your benefits will be reduced if your failure to wear protective eyewear would have prevented the injury to your eye. Both your temporary total disability and permanent partial disability settlement can be reduced by anywhere from 25 to 50 percent.

DRUGS AND/OR ALCOHOL USE

If you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol in the workplace at the time of your injury, your benefit for lost wages and permanent partial disability may be reduced by up to 50 percent. For example:

• If your temporary total disability (lost wages) check was $500 a week, it can be reduced to $250 a week by the insurance company for a violation of the company’s drug or alcohol policy.
• If you would have been entitled to a $20,000 settlement for permanent partial disability, you may receive $10,000 if the insurance company can successfully prove that you violated a company policy against the use of drugs or alcohol.