If you’ve never been through the process before, dealing with workers compensation in Maryland can be difficult. Some attorneys who don’t specialize in this field of law have a hard time navigating the workers comp system. Thankfully, our Laurel workers compensation attorneys have decades of combined experience handling cases like yours. We can explain what things can cause your workers compensation benefits to come to an end. We can also explain what maximum medical improvement is and how it can impact your case. If you feel that your employer is taking advantage of you, it’s time to call a workers’ comp lawyer in Laurel.
We suggest that anybody who is injured in a workplace accident contact our office right away. We offer new clients a free, initial consultation. This gives you a chance to sit down with a Laurel workers compensation attorney who knows the law and understands how the workers compensation process works. If you feel that your benefits are coming to an end and you aren’t sure what to do, give us a call. We’ll schedule your consultation right away. This way, your workers’ comp lawyer in Laurel can try to appeal to the insurance company to give you more time to recover.
There are Several Ways Your Benefits Can End
Your workers compensation benefits can end in any number of ways. The most common way is that you recover from your injuries and are ready to return to work. This happens when your workers’ compensation doctor determines that you’ve attained something called maximum medical improvement. This is the term used when it gets to the point where you will no longer benefit from further medical treatment.
One other way your workers compensation benefits can be terminated is if you aren’t participating in your medical treatment. For example, if you miss too many doctor’s appointments or refuse to do the work your doctor suggests, your claim can be terminated. The goal of being out on workers comp is for you to get better so you can return to work. If you’re doing something to prevent or delay this from happening, you aren’t going to be rewarded with additional benefits.
If You Refuse to Participate with Your Medical Treatment, Your Benefits Will Terminate
One thing your Laurel workers compensation attorney will tell you is that you must participate in your medical care. Your workers’ compensation doctor’s job is to get you in good enough shape that you can go back to work. They have no ulterior motive in determining that you’re fully healed. They’re just trying to do their job. You can make it very hard for them to do that if you refuse to participate in your care.
If your workers comp lawyer in Laurel finds out that you’re not cooperating with your doctor, they’ll give you a nudge. You need to do this if you expect your workers compensation benefits to continue. Some clients just want their benefits to last as long as possible. Others don’t agree with the treatment their doctor wants them to undergo. If that’s the case, let your Laurel workers’ compensation attorney know what’s going on. They can reach out to your doctor and see if there are other options available. They can also talk to the insurance adjuster handling your claim. This way, they can explain what the issue is rather than letting it appear that you’re being difficult.
If You Take Another Job, You Will Lose Your Workers Compensation Benefits
One of the biggest mistakes you can make while you’re out on workers compensation benefits is taking a new job. While you have every right to leave your current job, you need to notify your workers’ comp lawyer in Laurel. They’ll let the insurance company know what’s going on. They can’t stop your workers compensation benefits from being terminated. However, they can at least smooth the situation over, so it doesn’t appear that you’re acting in bad faith. If you do something like that, it could come back to haunt you. If you end up getting injured at work down the road, the insurance carrier may see that you have a history of delaying your workers compensation claim. Not only will this make it harder for you to collect benefits, but it will also make it harder for your Laurel workers’ compensation attorney to help you.
Your Laurel Workers Compensation Attorney Will Ensure Your Claim is Handled Properly
One of the main reasons you hire a Laurel workers compensation attorney is to make sure your claim is handled properly. Some clients come to see us immediately after their workplace accident. This gives us a chance to make sure your claim is approved. If it’s denied, your workers’ comp lawyer in Laurel will help you file an appeal. Having a licensed attorney by your side can give you the peace of mind you need.
The other thing about hiring a worker’s comp lawyer in Laurel is that they can help if you’re forced to go back to work early. Most of the time, when people are hurt at work, they’re out on workers compensation until they’re fully recovered. They don’t feel any pressure from their employer to go back to work before they’re ready. However, we have represented many clients who are forced to go back to work too soon. Once their doctor determined that they had reached maximum medical improvement, they had no choice in the matter. In these cases, we intervened and got a second opinion from an independent doctor. Usually, this buys our clients enough time to fully recover before they go back to their job.
If you’re having trouble with your workers’ comp case, give us a call. We offer new clients a free, initial consultation. This gives you a chance to find out what options are available to you. It also gives our associates a chance to see if your case is worth pursuing. Since the consultation is free, you really have nothing to lose. In fact, we don’t charge our clients a penny until their cases settle.
