Workers’ compensation is designed to protect employees from the financial fallout of workplace injuries. While most claims involve common injuries like falls, machine accidents, or repetitive strain, some incidents fall far outside the norm and test the boundaries of what the law considers “work-related.” Below, you’ll find a list of real and bizarre workers’ compensation claims, and learn how courts evaluate them.
What Makes an Injury Compensable?
In workers’ compensation law, injuries are generally only covered if they:
- Occur in the course and scope of employment
- Are related to job duties or work environments
- Happen without employee misconduct, intoxication, or willful negligence
This context helps explain why some strange claims are accepted and why others are denied.
Workers’ compensation claims are filed all the time for various reasons. Some of the most common workplace injuries involve power tools, falls, motor vehicles, and electrical shock. While many workers’ compensation claims are similar, there are a few claims that have been filed for some very bizarre reasons.
Spider Nightmare Injury
In 2015, a firefighter was sleeping at the station when he had a nightmare about spiders, which caused him to jump out of his bed and get injured. He suffered a fracture of the long bone on the outside of his left foot. His injury required immediate surgery. He filed a claim but was denied because the spider nightmare had nothing to do with his job. He filed an appeal, which was also rejected.
Vending Machine Hip Fracture
You may remember Circuit City, which went out of business several years ago. In 2005, one of their employees was trying to help a fellow employee get a bag of chips that was stuck in the vending machine. While attempting to dislodge the bag, he fell on the floor, resulting in a slightly displaced pelvic fracture. His injury required surgery, and he filed a workers’ compensation claim.
The court agreed with the employee that his injury was a work-related accident, and he was compensated.
Falling From a Tree On Break
A pipefitter and his co-workers were on their lunch break and talking about climbing trees as kids. Which led naturally, of course, to climbing the nearest tall tree they could find. One of the workers made it down safely, but the other was injured when the limb snapped beneath him and fell more than 25 feet. He suffered five broken ribs, a cracked right shoulder blade, and a spinal cord injury.
His workers’ compensation claim was denied because the fall did not occur within the claimant’s scope of employment. On appeal, the court upheld the initial decision.
Tripping Over a Dog
A woman who worked from home tripped over her small dog while getting office supplies in the other room, and she was injured. She filed a workers’ comp claim, which was denied because she could have been injured by the dog at any time, not just during work hours, and the employer had no control over her dog. She appealed, and the appellate court upheld the decision.
Emotional Distress During a Fake Robbery
A woman was working when a man came in wearing a ski mask, slammed down a paper bag, and a note telling her to give him all the money. She tried to pull the silent alarm, and he stopped her, pointing again to the note. She gave the man the money, and he left. It turned out she wasn’t robbed; the store owner set up the fake robbery as a security exercise.
The woman filed a claim saying she was assaulted and traumatized. A jury awarded her $360,000 in damages, but a California trial court ordered a new trial, which upheld the original verdict.
Fight With a Panhandler
A pizza deliveryman got a punctured lung when he got in a fight with a panhandler who was being chased out of the establishment by other employees. The employer claimed that the claimant was injured because he wanted to fight. The employee’s claim was paid.
Falling On Concrete
A longshore worker was drinking before and during work. He went to relieve himself when he fell and landed on a slab of concrete. He claimed that since he fell on the employer’s property and not the river, he deserved to have his claim approved. At the hospital, it was determined that his blood alcohol was three times over the legal limit, and he had marijuana in his system, so his claim was denied.
These are crazy workers’ compensation claims. If you have a legitimate claim, the professionals at the Law Offices of Hussain & Gutierrez can help.
Legal Lessons From These Claims
Let’s break down why certain claims were approved or denied using legal doctrine:
| Claim Type | Legal Context | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Spider Nightmare | Not related to work duty (idiopathic origin) | Denied |
| Vending Machine | Helping a coworker (personal comfort doctrine) | Approved |
| Tree Climbing | Activity was recreational and off-task | Denied |
| Tripping on Dog | Home hazard not employer-controlled | Denied |
| Fake Robbery | Emotional trauma due to employer action | Approved (initially) |
| Fight with a Panhandler | Injured while protecting the store | Approved |
| Drunken Fall | Intoxicated at the time of injury | Denied |
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s considered “in the course of employment”?
It refers to tasks or behavior an employee does as part of their job, or any actions that benefit the employer, even if they aren’t strictly listed in a job description.
Can I file a workers’ comp claim while working remotely?
Yes, but injuries must arise directly out of work tasks, not general household hazards.
What happens if my claim is denied?
You can file an appeal. You’ll need documentation, medical records, and ideally a lawyer who understands state-specific workers’ comp law.
Does workers’ comp cover emotional or psychological injuries?
In some cases, yes, especially when caused by traumatic events at work or employer negligence.
Want to File a Claim or Appeal? Here’s What to Do:
If you’re injured at work and unsure whether your injury qualifies:
- Report the incident immediately
- Document all medical care
- Seek legal counsel, especially if your claim is denied
- Be prepared to prove that your activity was within job scope
