An injury at work can be stressful, even more so when there are complications. For example, what happens if a Colorado worker is injured outside of the state? Does workers’ comp cover out of state incidents, or are they out of luck?
If you’re injured outside of Colorado, the law can be complicated. That’s why your best bet is to talk to a workers’ comp lawyer as soon as possible following the incident. Technically, Colorado law should cover you, but there are a few factors this depends on.
With 30 years of experience, Kaplan Morrell will take a close look at your case and make sure we fight for the compensation you deserve.
What happens if you’re employed in Colorado but are injured out of state?
Colorado law covers all injuries that occur outside the state if the worker was hired in Colorado or regularly employed in our state. Whether someone was “hired” in Colorado has become less clear in our age of Slack, Zoom, and remote work.
A judge will consider a number of facts, including:
- Where the contract was formed
- The place where the offer was accepted
- Where the employer representatives who did the hiring were located
- The intention of the parties
- Where the last act necessary to the meeting of the minds or to complete the contract occurred
Therefore, it is possible to have a Colorado work injury without having been physically present in Colorado. So long as the injury occurs within six months of leaving (or being hired) in Colorado, then Colorado Law governs the benefits an injured worker receives.
What happens if I’m considered no longer employed in Colorado?
If you have left Colorado for more than six months and your employer is not based in Colorado, then it’s unlikely Colorado workers’ comp benefits would cover your case. You should talk to an experienced lawyer in your area who’ll be able to give you the best advice.
Talk to an experienced workers’ comp lawyer like Kaplan Morrell about your case
As always, how this would apply to your case depends on many more factors. We urge you to call us to see if you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.
Workers’ compensation is difficult, confusing, and very complex. Kaplan Morrell has helped thousands of injured workers get the benefits they deserve. Call us at 303.780.7329 for your free consultation.
