Vehicles are driving some wacky workers’ comp stories that resulted in fraud charges for a car driver and a bike rider.
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In Washington State, a man who didn’t just ride bikes but raced them in competition, said he was hurt at work lifting a heavy box and was unable to perform his duties as a groundskeeper due to a knee injury. He was awarded benefits and had received in replacement wages $14,000 over 20 months.
Based on an anonymous tip, an inspector for the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) saw him at two off-road dirt bike races—and also saw the Facebook posts the worker made about the races, including one where he said he had injured his ribs crashing into a tree.
When questioned by the L&I, the worker said he had injured his ribs in a home fall caused by his knee injury from work. You guessed it, the worker now faces charges of defrauding the state about his disability.
In another vehicle-driven story, twincities.com reports that a city worker for the St. Paul, Minnesota, Department of Parks and Recreation was driving a van rented by the city in the course of employment. She took a corner too close and hit a parked car, damaging the bumper. What’s so wacky? It was her car!
The van also had some minor damage, but according the report, no accident paperwork as required by city policies was filed by the worker, nor did she file an incident report with Parks and Recreation. However, she did file a claim against the city for $1,600 in damages to the car.
Not following the reporting protocol will probably result in disciplinary action against the worker, who could face losing her driving privileges at work or worse. There is no word yet on her damage claim against the city.
Facebook strikes again!