Heart Attacks and Workers’ Compensation in Tennessee
Is a heart attack a valid medical issue when it comes to workers’ compensation claims? It depends on the situation.
A Tennessee Supreme Court decision highlights how unusual workplace events can affect workers’ compensation claims involving heart attacks.
The case involved a recycling company truck driver who suffered a fatal heart attack after being pulled over by a sheriff’s deputy while transporting scrap metal. The deputy stopped the driver because pieces of metal were protruding from the truck, even though no other employee at the company had been stopped for a similar issue during the previous year.
The deputy observed that the driver appeared nervous and initially did not explain the reason for the traffic stop. After informing the driver about the unsecured load, the deputy told him he could not leave until several large pieces of steel were rearranged. Normally, the company used machinery to load and unload trailers, meaning workers typically did not perform this task by hand.
The driver repeatedly climbed into and out of the tall trailer to reposition the metal, but the hot summer day took its toll on the driver. After about 10 minutes, the deputy became concerned when the driver failed to reappear. Upon climbing to the top of the trailer, the deputy found the driver lying on his back and unresponsive. He later died.
The man’s wife sought workers’ compensation death benefits, but was she legally allowed to? Under Tennessee law, heart attacks triggered by mental or emotional stress may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits if they result from a sudden, unusual, or abnormal event. Ordinary job-related stress is generally not enough to support a claim.
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that the driver’s heart attack was compensable because it was precipitated by an unusual workplace event. While traffic stops are a routine possibility for commercial drivers, the court found that the circumstances of this stop went beyond what would normally be expected.
The court noted that the driver was ordered to remain at the scene, manually rearrange heavy steel that was typically handled by machinery, and repeatedly climb in and out of a large trailer in extreme heat. Evidence showed that no employees had previously been required to perform similar roadside adjustments. This further supported the conclusion that the incident was unusual.
As a result, the court determined that the combination of circumstances surrounding the traffic stop constituted an abnormal event under Tennessee workers’ compensation law, making the resulting heart attack compensable.
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Unusual stress in the workplace can cause a heart attack, which may be compensable under state workers’ compensation laws. However, it must have been an abnormal or unusual event that caused the added stress.
Workers’ compensation laws can be tricky. Contact a Mt. Juliet workers’ compensation lawyer from The Law Offices of Christopher Eads, PLLC can help you understand the laws involved in your case. Schedule a consultation today. Give us a call at (615) 622-6060 or fill out the online form.
