Where injuries come from
- Lifting or repositioning a client without help or equipment
- Slips on wet bathroom floors and trips over rugs or cords
- Falls on icy steps and walkways
- Bites or scratches from clients' pets
- Needlestick and other exposure incidents for skilled staff
- Aggressive behavior from clients or household members
How a claim moves
The caregiver reports the injury to the agency, and the agency reports it to the insurer within the time the state and the policy require. The claim adjuster confirms the injury happened at work, arranges medical care through the state's rules on choosing a doctor, and calculates any wage benefits. Prompt reporting matters; delays can make claims harder to manage and may conflict with state reporting deadlines.
Prevention insurers look for
Underwriters often ask whether you assess each home before the first visit, train staff in body mechanics and transfer techniques, supply gait belts or mechanical lifts for heavier clients, and give caregivers a way to leave a visit that feels unsafe. A written exposure-control plan matters for agencies whose staff handle sharps.
Documented training and a simple incident-reporting process also help in loss-control reviews, which some insurers conduct after binding.
Frequently asked questions
Is a dog bite in a client's home covered by comp?
If the caregiver was working at the time, the injury is generally treated as work related. The client's homeowners policy may also be involved.
Does comp cover exposure to an infectious disease?
It depends on state law and on proof that the exposure came from work. Report any exposure promptly so it is documented.