A patient assault can leave you dealing with physical injuries, time away from work and questions about who will cover the consequences. In Indiana, you may be able to claim workers’ compensation when a patient assaults you while you are doing your job. Here is what you need to know about when a patient assault may qualify for workers’ compensation.
The assault happened while you were doing your job
You may have a workers’ compensation claim when a patient assaults you while you are carrying out your nursing duties. For example, the assault may happen while you provide care, assist a patient or perform another task your job requires. The connection between what you were doing and your work can help establish that the injury occurred during your employment.
Your work exposed you to the risk
Your claim may also depend on whether your job placed you in the situation that led to the assault. Nursing often requires direct contact with patients, and that contact can expose you to risks you would not face in the same way outside of work. When the circumstances of the assault stem from that work environment, the connection to your employment may support a claim.
The assault was not a personal dispute
An assault may not qualify for workers’ compensation if it stemmed from a personal conflict unrelated to your job. For instance, an argument that began outside of work and continued at your workplace may raise a different question than an assault connected to your nursing duties. That said, the reason for the assault can matter just as much as where it happened.
Take the injury seriously
The details of the assault can help determine whether you have a workers’ compensation claim. If you were injured by a patient, look at what you were doing, why the interaction occurred and whether your job placed you in that situation. An attorney can help you assess those circumstances and understand whether you may have a claim. Do not dismiss an injury simply because patient care comes with difficult moments.