A worker was injured while he was on his lunch break but still on company property. Does the injury qualify for workers’ comp benefits?
A worker at a nursing home took his lunch break. He was heading home on his bicycle on a paved road on company property when he was startled by a rabbit. He swerved and fell.
The employee applied for workers’ comp benefits, stating that his injury arose out of his employment.
The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission found the employee didn’t face a greater risk of injury than the general public after being startled by the rabbit. Therefore, he failed to prove he suffered an injury arising out of and in the course of his employment.
(Tillery v. McLean County Nursing Home)
