If a person gets hurt while on the job, they will be eligible for workers compensation benefits. There are certain requirements that you must meet before you can be considered for workers compensation in Maryland. If you want to give yourself the best chance of having your claim approved, you should hire an Annapolis workers compensation attorney right from the start. While you’re not legally required to do this, it’s still a good idea.

You may wonder why you would need a lawyer just to collect workers compensation in Maryland. The truth is that not all workers comp claims are approved. You may find out that your claim was denied altogether. Or you may learn that your medical treatment will be covered but you won’t be receiving weekly replacement wages.

In either case, you’re going to need to file an appeal. If you don’t do this perfectly, there’s a good chance your appeal will be denied as well. Maryland personal injury lawyers know the laws and they know the rules. They’ll make sure your claim is filed properly so that you have the best chance of receiving benefits.

Here, we’ll discuss the various types of benefits you can receive under workers compensation in Maryland. If you’re still confused or have questions after reading this, feel free to give us a call. We can schedule your free, initial consultation right over the phone.

Who Is Eligible for Workers Compensation in Maryland?

Not everybody is eligible for workers compensation in Maryland. There are certain categories of employees that aren’t entitled to workers comp benefits. Agricultural employers with less than 3 employees or an annual payroll that totals less than $15,000 per year are not required to carry workers’ comp insurance.

Another group that may not qualify for workers’ comp is domestic servants. People who work as maids, private chefs, and nannies are entitled to claim workers’ comp if they earn more than 1,000 in a calendar quarter.

Aside from the groups mentioned above, most other employees are entitled to workers compensation in Maryland if they get hurt while on the job. As long as your employer has at least one employee, they’re required to carry workers compensation insurance.

What Are the Requirements for Claiming Workers Compensation in Maryland?

There are certain criteria you must meet in order to qualify for workers compensation in Maryland. If you aren’t sure if you meet these requirements, you should check with your Annapolis workers compensation attorney. They can review your case and let you know what the odds are of your claim being approved.

At a minimum, you must meet the following criteria if you expect to be approved for workers compensation in Maryland:

  • Your injury must have been caused by a work-related accident
  • You must have been on the clock at the time of your injury
  • You must be able to show that you reported the injury immediately after the accident
  • You can’t be under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time you get hurt
  • You are required to be treated by a state-approved workers comp doctor
  • You are going to have to submit to a drug test at the time of treatment

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of the requirements for workers compensation in Maryland. However, if you don’t meet these basic criteria, you can bet your claim won’t be approved.

Annapolis workers compensation attorney

What Benefits Can You Collect if Your Claim is Approved?

If your workers comp claim is approved, then you’ll receive certain benefits in Maryland. These benefits include both medical care and weekly replacement wages. The amount you’ll receive depends on how much you were making when the accident took place.

In Maryland, as in most states, when you file for workers comp, you’ll receive weekly benefits that are equal to 2/3 of your average weekly wages. This means that, if you were making $500 per week, you’ll receive weekly benefits in the amount of $333.

It’s important to note that you can only collect these benefits for up to 130 weeks. Most states allow their citizens to collect for up to 8 or 9 years so this is a very low time period. For the most part, workers typically end up back to work long before the 130 weeks are up. That comes out to be close to 2 ½ years. You’d have to suffer a really serious injury to be out for that long.

In addition to these replacement wages, you’ll also receive free medical care. You won’t have to pay anything for your medical care. As long as you’re treated by an approved doctor, you shouldn’t have a problem. However, if you refuse to see the state-approved doctor, your claim will be denied, and your benefits will be terminated. Rather than let this happen, call and talk to an experienced Maryland personal injury lawyer.

Reach Out to One of Our Annapolis Workers Compensation Attorneys

If you get hurt at work and aren’t sure what to do next, don’t worry. We meet dozens of injured workers every year. They know they can rely on one of our Maryland personal injury lawyers to file their workers compensation claim and appeal it if necessary. If this doesn’t work, we won’t hesitate to file suit on your behalf.

All you have to do is call and schedule your free, initial consultation. Once you sit down with one of our personal injury lawyers, you’ll have a much better idea of how workers compensation in Maryland works. We’ll help you file your claim so we can make sure it’s handled properly from the start. And if your claim is denied, we’ll reach out to the insurance company to find out why.

Since the initial consultation is free, you really have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

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