What does the "but for" principle in workers' compensation mean?

The "but for" principle in workers' compensation refers to the idea that a worker's injury must be directly linked to their employment in such a way that the injury would not have occurred "but for" the fact that they were performing their job duties at the time of the injury. This means that there needs to be a clear causal relationship between the worker's role and the incident that led to the injury. If the worker would not have been injured had they not been in that specific job position, this satisfies the "but for" standard.

Understanding this principle is critical in establishing the validity of a workers' compensation claim. It underscores that the employment situation is a necessary condition for the injury's occurrence, rather than simply demonstrating that the injury happened during work hours or that an accident occurred due to negligence. The focus is specifically on the connection between the employment and the injury itself, rather than other factors that might involve workplace injuries or documentation requirements.