West Virginia Adjusters Practice Exam

Which of the following would qualify as an "injury" for the purposes of workers' compensation insurance?

1. An employee develops carpal tunnel syndrome after years of typing.

2. Jordan falls off a defective ladder while working for a home improvement company, and breaks his leg.

3. Office workers experience eye strain from long hours in front of a computer.

4. Two employees get into a physical altercation at work.

The correct answer is: An employee develops carpal tunnel syndrome after years of typing.

The correct answer highlights a scenario where a condition develops over time due to repetitive work tasks, which is considered an occupational injury under workers' compensation insurance. Carpal tunnel syndrome is recognized as a cumulative trauma disorder, arising from prolonged and repetitive activities, such as typing. This aligns with workers' compensation principles that cover injuries resulting from job-related activities, even if they develop gradually rather than resulting from a single incident. The other scenarios involve injuries that either stem from acute incidents or are not recognized under typical workers' compensation claims. For example, a fall from a ladder leading to a broken leg clearly represents an immediate, identifiable injury occurring during the course of employment and would qualify under workers' compensation. Eye strain from prolonged computer use, while a legitimate concern, is often harder to prove as it may not follow the same criteria as more recognized physical injuries. Lastly, injuries resulting from altercations at work may complicate claims, often being classified as personal disputes rather than workplace injuries, although such cases can still be reviewed under specific circumstances.