What if I was partially at fault for the injury?
Answer
If you are partially at fault for your workplace injury, the good news is that you are still entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Even if you weren’t as careful as you should have been in that particular moment, that alone does not disqualify you from receiving benefits. A Rhode Island workers compensation attorney can explain that workers’ comp is not based on fault, meaning simple mistakes, missteps, or momentary carelessness do not bar you from coverage. The only major exception involves what case law refers to as “horseplay,” where someone is engaged in activity completely unrelated to their job duties. If, for example, there is fighting, fooling around, or some other behavior outside the scope of your employment, then your injury may fall outside the protection of workers’ comp. For more clarity on how fault and eligibility interact, you can also review our RI workers’ comp benefits . If you’re unsure about your rights, looking into sue employer and employer lawsuit situations can offer useful guidance.