Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission News

Employee Wins Workers’ Compensation Under Exception to ‘Coming-and-Going’ Bar

An exception to the workers’ compensation “coming-and-going” rule applies where the employer provides the transportation even if the employer says there was no explicit agreement that he would supply rides. The exception can apply where there is credible evidence to …

How Worker Won Workers’ Compensation for Mental Health Care After Car Crash Injury

A Virginia employer cannot assert that an injury is unrelated to a workplace accident while also arguing that the medical care for that injury is unauthorized; instead the employer must choose one or the other position, the Virginia Workers’ Compensation …

People Moves: Schaninger Joins Arthur Hall; Virginia Reappoints WC Commissioner Marshall

Arthur Hall Insurance, headquartered in West Chester, Pennsylvania, named Mike Schaninger its small business unit (SBU) team lead and account manager. Schaninger currently serves as an adjunct professor at Widener University. He previously worked as medtech sales manager at Inogen …

School Crossing Guard Beats City’s Bid to Stop Her Workers ‘ Compensation Benefits

The Virginia city of Chesapeake has lost its bid to deny workers’ compensation medical benefits to a school crossing guard who injured her wrist when she fell while keeping her eyes on children around her crosswalk The city argued that …

Injured Worker Upheld in Refusing Suitable Return Job Because He Opposed Vaccination

It was reasonable for an injured employee who is returning to work to refuse a job that accommodated his disability because he had personal and religious objections to getting a COVID-19 vaccine. The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC) ruled against …

Worker Injured a ‘Reasonable Time’ After Shift Ends Is Covered, Virginia Panel Says

A worker who fell and injured herself while walking to the restroom after completing her shift as a convenience store clerk was still in the course of her employment when she fell and thus she is entitled to workers’ compensation …

Workers’ Compensation Panel Reverses Claim Denial for Man With Two Names

A Virginia man who was denied workers’ compensation benefits for his workplace injury because he apparently used two different names is entitled to have his name on the record corrected and his claim reconsidered, the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC) …

When ‘Preparing for Work’ Falls Under Virginia Workers’ Compensation

An employee who was injured while scraping ice off his company-owned truck parked at his home is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, the Virginia Workers Compensation Commission has ruled, reversing a deputy commissioner’s denial of benefits. “We find that the …

Driver Injured in Accident Not Eligible for Workers’ Comp After Failing to Wear Seat Belt

The Court of Appeals of Virginia has upheld a Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission decision that workers’ comp benefits cannot be awarded to a truck driver injured in an accident after failing to wear a seat belt. This decision comes after …

Virginia to Raise Penalties for Employers Without Workers’ Comp Coverage

Employers in Virginia who fail to provide workers’ compensation insurance for their employees will be assessed, beginning July, a civil penalty of up to $250 per day for each day of noncompliance, subject to a maximum penalty of $50,000, plus …