What if I Suffer Injuries at an Office Party in Tampa?
Office parties are common in Tampa, and they allow employees to let loose and socialize. Often, these take the form of Christmas parties that give workers the opportunity to celebrate after a successful or challenging year. What happens if you suffer injuries at one of these events? Can you still file a workers’ comp claim, even if you weren’t “on the clock” at the time of the accident? This is a question you might want to raise with a Tampa workers’ comp lawyer.
How Might an Injury at an Office Party Happen?
Injuries at office parties can occur in various ways. One example is a slip and fall. A worker might slip on a spilled drink or perhaps a food scrap. This might cause them to fall onto the floor and injure their hip, leg, or head. Alternatively, a worker might suffer from food poisoning after eating something at the office party.
Workplace violence could also occur at an office party. While Christmas and other winter holidays represent opportunities to celebrate, this time of year is also associated with considerable financial stress. Another injury might involve a car accident. For example, a worker might be tasked with picking up food from a local pizza restaurant before crashing and suffering serious injuries.
What if I Was Drunk When I Was Injured at My Office Party?
If you were drunk during your accident at the office party, pursuing compensation through workers’ comp could be challenging. This is because technically speaking, intoxication bars you from filing a workers’ comp claim in Florida. However, you should speak with a lawyer before completely giving up hope. There is a major difference between having one or two drinks and becoming intoxicated.
For example, multiple witnesses might have seen you stumbling across the party venue before slipping and falling. Witnesses might also say that you drank 8 or 9 beers before your accident. If this is the case, you might find it challenging to file a valid workers’ comp claim. On the other hand, witnesses might say that you seemed relatively sober before your fall, and you only had 2 beers.
Were You Required to Attend?
If you were not specifically required to attend the office party, you may also struggle to file a workers’ comp claim. Under Florida law, these accidents usually only lead to compensation if you can establish that the office party was mandatory.
Did Your Employer Conduct Business During the Office Party?
Even if attendance was not mandatory, your accident may still lead to a valid claim if your employer conducted business during the party. For example, your employer might have invited prospective or current clients to the party, using the occasion as an opportunity to promote their products or services.
Can a Tampa Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Help Me?
If you were injured at an office party in Tampa, you might want to review your options with an experienced workers’ comp lawyer. These legal professionals can assess your situation and determine the most appropriate course of action for you. In most situations, injuries at office parties should lead to compensation. However, there are always certain exceptions to consider. Continue this conversation with The Franco Law Firm today.
Source:
myfloridacfo.com/division/wc
