You wouldn't think that injuring your back during a Limbo competition at your office's holiday party would entitle you to workers' compensation benefits – and you might be right. But then again, you might be wrong. It depends on several factors; in fact, the same kinds of factors are used to evaluate any workers' compensation claim.

Do I Really Have to Go to This Party?

If your employer requires you to attend the party, even if it's away from the office after work hours, you may be able to claim that your injury was work-related. The argument may be even stronger when the party is during work hours and still more so when it occurs in the workplace.

Am I Being Paid to Party?

On top of being required to attend, if your workplace pays you to do so – whether by making it part of your salaried compensation or by paying your hourly wages while you celebrate with your co-workers, your injuries incurred during the party might be covered by workers' compensation.

Who Else Was There?

If clients or customers are invited to the party, there may be an argument that the event is at least partly for promotional purposes and that your attendance is needed to help boost the company's profile with the invited guests. In other words, the event was work-related.

How Did the Injury Occur?

If the Limbo Competition was included in the planned festivities, your back injury may entitle you to workers' compensation benefits. But if it was an

impromptu, unplanned challenge from one of your co-workers, your company might argue that it was no different than an injury during regular work hours caused by horseplay that had nothing to do with your job. And if alcohol may have played a role, that can further cloud the issue, which is why you may need a workers' compensation attorney to help you with your claim.

The Delsa Law Firm, LLC, Can Help You with Your Workers' Compensation Claim

Whether your injury occurred during regular work hours while you were at your usual job or at your company's holiday party, you may be entitled to workers' compensation benefits. The Delsa Law Firm, LLC, can help you evaluate the circumstances of your injury to determine whether you may be entitled to benefits and, if so, will help you claim them and protect your rights if your employer or its insurer denies the claim. Call us today at (985) 882-1222 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation or use our contact form to ask a question and let us know how to reach you. Attorney Delsa has years of experience helping injured Louisiana employees get the benefits they're entitled to. Find out how we can help you too. We're located just off of I-12 in Slidell, easy to reach from New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.