Occupational accident

In Germany, an occupational accident is an accident that an individual experiences due to an activity that is covered by his or her statutory accident insurance protection. Accidents are incidents that occur within a limited timeframe and result in injury or death.

An occupational accident is an event covered by statutory accident insurance that entitles the person involved to benefits from their accident insurance policy.

In order for an accident to be recognised as an occupational accident, the cause of the accident must lie in the activity. This is referred to as the causal relationship between insured activity and accident. Such a relationship always exists when the injured party has been exposed to a risk caused by the insured activity. Furthermore, for the incident to be acknowledged as an occupational accident, it must have been the cause of the personal injury or death of the insured party. This is referred to as the causal relationship between accident and personal injury.

Occupational accidents also include accidents that occur on a direct route between place of residence and place of Work (commuting accidents).

Acknowledgement of an incident as an occupational accident and/or the provision of insurance benefits may be refused if the insured party should have anticipated an accident due to his or her own irrational and dangerous conduct, for example working whilst under the effects of alcohol.

In Germany, the organisations responsible for statutory accident insurance are the institutions for statutory accident insurance and prevention (Berufsgenossenschaften, or BGs) and the German Federal public-sector accident insurers.