Is a Back Injury at Work Eligible for Workers’ Compensation?

QUESTION: My brother hurt his back at work and his boss said he can’t claim Workers’ Compensation. Is this true?

ANSWER: Not necessarily, this would be determined by the facts found after the incident was reported. If the injury arose due to a work-related event, and your brother reported it to his supervisor (by law, you have to notify your employer within 90 days of the incident), his supervisor is then responsible for reporting the incident to the Michigan Department of Labor. If your brother’s employer does not file a claim within 3-5 days of notification, the employer can be reported and fined.