Workplace Injuries Must Meet Specific Criteria for Compensation, Virginia WCC Rules

The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC) recently upheld a decision denying workers’ compensation benefits to a Fairfax County school bus driver. The driver, who injured his knee while walking to a restroom during his shift, was unable to prove that his injury arose from work-related risks. The WCC emphasized that simple acts such as walking, bending, or turning, without workplace-specific contributing factors, do not qualify as compensable risks under workers’ compensation laws.

The incident occurred on February 15, 2024, when the driver parked at a recreational center and exited the bus to use the restroom. While walking, he experienced sudden pain in his knee and foot. Initially, the driver stated he did not know what caused the pain but later claimed the injury developed over time from assisting heavy children on the bus. However, a medical expert concluded the injury was not work-related.

The WCC ruled that the injury did not meet the statutory requirement for compensability, which demands a specific workplace-related incident causing a sudden mechanical or structural bodily change. The commission reiterated that workers’ compensation laws do not make employers liable for all injuries that occur during work but only for those caused by workplace-specific risks.