While you are entitled to compensation if you sustain an injury at work, navigating the claim can be challenging. You are likely to be scared of putting your career or job on the line by filing a claim. However, with help from the Laurel workers’ compensation lawyers at Pinder Plotkin, you can protect your career and get the justice you deserve.
Our legal team in Laurel, Maryland understands the pressure you may be facing, not forgetting the medical bills that will start adding up. You do not have to downplay your injuries or navigate the process alone. Instead, let our workers’ compensation lawyer near you help you pursue the financial compensation you are entitled to as you focus on your recovery.
Have you recently suffered a work injury? Let the Laurel workers’ compensation lawyers at Pinder Plotkin help. Call (410) 525-5337 for a free consultation to discuss your claim with a personal injury lawyer.
What Is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation or workers’ comp refers to a type of insurance that employers pay to cater for any injuries an employee may sustain on the job. The workers’ comp law in Maryland demands that any employee injured on the job receive payment for medical expenses and lost wages related to the injury.
Unlike other forms of compensation, workers’ compensation is not reliant on any party being at fault. As a result, in many cases, if you get injured at your workplace, you cannot sue your employer. Consider talking to the lawyers at Pinder Plotkin in Laurel, Maryland, to learn more about workers’ compensation and how to go about your situation.
What Is Covered By Workers’ Comp In Maryland?
It is worth mentioning that not all illnesses or accidents on the job qualify for compensation. As an employee, you only qualify for compensation if your injury stems out of and occurs during your employment. Therefore, the injury must:
- Happen when you are doing the job
- Be a result of the conditions dictated by your employer for carrying out the job
The injuries qualifying for compensation also include diseases that you may develop due to the job conditions. For instance, it could be an illness resulting from toxic fumes at the worksite. You are still legible for workers’ compensation if a third party causes your injuries.
What Should I Do If I Am Hurt at Work?
It is crucial to follow a specific protocol when you get hurt on the job. Here is what you ought to do if you get injured at work:
Tell Your Employer You Are Hurt
You must let your employer know you are hurt. You can report it in writing or verbally within ten days of sustaining the injury. If you develop an occupational disease, you must report it to the employer within one year of discovering the illness.
Follow Your Doctor’s Instructions
Get to a doctor as soon as you can and follow your doctor’s instructions after sustaining an injury at work. Do everything your chosen healthcare provider in Laurel, Maryland, tells you, and ensure you tell them about your injury in detail to get the proper treatment.
Keep a Written Record of Your Injury and Symptoms
While your healthcare provider will record your injury and symptoms, it will be best for you to start documenting your symptoms. In your record, you can document how your injury happened, all the symptoms that resulted from the injury, and the treatment you are getting.
Take Photos of Your Injury if Visible
If your injuries are visible, make sure you take pictures of them or ask someone to help you take pictures of the injury. Taking photos is vital as you can use them as evidence of the extent of your injuries even after they heal. Photos of the injuries can also help determine the cause of the injury and accident.
File a Workers’ Compensation Claim
File a workers’ compensation claim with the assistance of a workers’ compensation attorney. You will need time to focus on your recovery when you get hurt on the job, so it will be best to work with a workers’ compensatory attorney.
Let our experienced Laurel workers’ compensation lawyers assist with all the paperwork and legal assistance needed to win your case. We have extensive legal experience and will help you file your worker’s comp claim within the time limit and ensure you receive maximum compensation.
When filing the claim, if the injury did not result in death, you have 60 days to file the claim. If the injury resulted in death, the employee’s family has 18 months to file the claim. With an occupational disease, the injured employee or their family has two years to file a claim.
What Are the Steps for Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim in Maryland?
You must follow the appropriate steps when filling a workers’ comp claim. Here are the typical steps to take when filling a workers’ compensation claim:
Step 1 – Report Your Injury to Your Supervisor
Always start by reporting any work-related illnesses or injuries to your supervisor or employer. Do not wait for too long to report an injury, as it eliminates the critical evidence of your claim.
Step 2 – File a Claim With the Workers’ Compensation Commission
Your employer may voluntarily offer you compensation, but you still have to file a claim with the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission. Your employer should start paying you benefits within 21 days.
Step 3 – Contact a Qualified Worker’s Compensation Attorney
It helps to have a qualified workers’ compensation attorney like the experienced Laurel workers’ compensation lawyers at Pinder Plotkin. Having an attorney prevents any problems with your employer’s insurer and also ensures your paperwork is efficiently and accurately completed.
Step 4 – Request a Hearing If Your Claim Is Denied
If your claim is denied or you feel you’re not being paid enough wage benefits, you may request a hearing before the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission. Your attorney will present evidence supporting your case.
What Are Your Rights After an On-the-Job Injury?
A significant number of workers get injured while at work. If you intend to get the financial compensation you deserve, it helps to know your rights and effectively assert those rights. Here are your rights after sustaining an injury on the job:
- The right to file for workers’ compensation
- Right to medical care
- The right to calculate your losses independently
- The right to file for other claims compensation
- The right to recuperate
- The right to legal representation
- The right to take your claim to court
- The right to be free from retaliation
What Can I Do If My Claim Is Denied?
Your claim may be denied in some instances, but this should not deter you. Getting your claim denied means your employer’s insurer does not think your injuries are compensable, but you can always challenge that decision. However, it would be best to hire an experienced workers’ comp lawyer near you.
The experienced Laurel workers’ comp lawyers at Pinder Plotkin will help you navigate this complex process, including helping you establish whether an appeal is an appropriate choice for your case.
How Can a Worker’s Comp Attorney Help Me?
It is crucial to work with a workers’ comp attorney because the process is not often as simple as most individuals imagine. If you get injured at work, reach out to a workers’ comp attorney to make the process straightforward from the onset. Here is how our workers’ comp attorney at Pinder Plotkin in Laurel, Maryland, can help you:
- Help you appeal a denied claim
- Protect your rights when you get back to work
- File your claim
- Compile and submit the correct medical evidence that supports your claim
- Handle settlement negotiations
- Free consultation to assess your work injury claim
How Much Does a Laurel Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Cost?
You have a right to attorney representation. At Pinder Plotkin in Laurel, Maryland, we have a contingency arrangement with our clients. Do not worry about incurring attorney fees while dealing with medical bills and lost wages. You will only pay our attorneys after winning your case when working with us.
Overall, the fee we charge will be a percentage of the total sum the commission will award you. Call us at (410) 525-5337 to find out more details about our contingency fee and how the process works.
We Know Workers’ Comp Law Inside and Out
At Pinder Plotkin, our primary purpose is to help all our clients get their rightful compensation. You don’t have to go through the complex process of appealing or filing a workers’ comp claim alone, only to get it denied or delayed. You will not have to settle for an unacceptable claim when working with our team.
Have you or your loved one been involved in a workplace injury? Working with our legal team is a pretty straightforward process, and without any upfront or hidden fees! You will only pay our legal team after we win your workers’ comp case. Call (410) 525-5337 for a free consultation.