When job accidents happen, Maryland provides financial support to injured workers and their families. This is called workersā compensation.
Workersā compensation (or workersā comp) provides wage replacement and medical benefits to employees who are hurt on the job or diagnosed with an occupational illness. These monthly payments can be critical to help workers avoid financial hardships while they recover from their fatal ocupational injuries.
Most Maryland workers qualify for workersā compensation. But filing a claim for benefits can be complicated, and denials are common. This is the last type of battle you need to be fighting while youāre trying to heal. Let Trollinger Law LLC, stand up for you.
For years, Waldorf attorney Matt Trollinger has helped hardworking Maryland residents obtain the workersā compensation benefits they deserve after a workplace accident. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed on the job, you can count on Trollinger Law LLC to help with every aspect of your workersā compensation claim.
Ready to get started? Call or contact us today for a free consultation.
Types Of Workplace Injuries In Maryland
About 3 million people work in Maryland. Roughly 3 percent of them are hurt on the job each year. That percentage might sound small, but that translates into 90,000 Marylanders injured at work annually. That statistic also doesnāt account for the workers who are tragically killed in job-related accidents each year.
The most common injuries named in workersā compensation claims include:
- Back injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Broken bones
- Bruises, cuts, and scrapes
- Pulled, strained, or sprained muscles
- Crushed limbs
- Blindness
- Deafness
- Burns
- Electrocution
- Soft tissue injuries
- Respiratory problems
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Toxic exposure
When an employee suffers a life-changing injury, getting the full and fair amount of workersā compensation benefits possible is essential. Speak with an experienced workersā compensation lawyer right away. An attorney can help ensure that workersā comp claims are submitted on time and with the strong evidence needed to secure maximum benefits.
Causes Of Workplace Injuries
Job accidents can happen at any time, anywhere. The most common causes of fatal ocupational injuries include:
- Overexertion: This occurs when people lift, push, pull, hold, carry, or throw objects that are too heavy and place too much pressure on the body.
- Slips, trips, and falls: Unsecured wires, wet floors, uneven surfaces, damaged carpets, and even open drawers can cause workers to slip and fall.
- Falls from a height: People who work in construction, roofing, utilities, or other jobs that require them to work at great heights can suffer catastrophic trauma if a slip or other malfunction causes them to fall.
- Struck by equipment: Sometimes people are hit by a piece of machinery or equipment that has come loose. This type of accident is the leading cause of death in the construction industry.
- Auto accidents: Driving is a part of many jobs. Some crashes occur offsite, while others occur right in the workplace. Determining whether an injured employee is eligible for workersā comp after an auto accident can be complicated. Employees have to show that the injury occurred when the vehicle was being used in a work-related capacity in order receive benefits. This is not always easy, which is why itās smart to consult with a knowledgeable workersā comp lawyer.
- Repetitive motions: Many jobs involve performing tasks that have some repetitive motions. For example, typing is a big part of most office jobs and has been linked to carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition that many Maryland workers suffer from.
No matter what type of injury you sustained, you could be entitled to workersā compensation if it happened on the job. However, not all injuries are covered. The best way to learn whether your injury should be covered is by working with a skilled personal injury lawyer. Call or contact Trollinger Law LLC today for a free consultation.
How Does Maryland Workersā Compensation Work?
Workersā compensation in Maryland is a no-fault system. This means that it does not matter if employees are partly responsible for the accident that resulted in their injury. They can still receive workersā comp benefits, regardless of fault.
In exchange for the no-fault benefit, employees lose the right to file a personal injury claim against their employers for negligence. However, you may have other legal options depending on the circumstances of your accident. A workersā compensation attorney can investigate the incident thoroughly to determine if anyone else should be held liable for your injury.
There are very strict time limits and procedures that must be followed when initiating a workersā comp claim with the Maryland Workersā Compensation Commission. The most important factor impacting the success of a workersā comp claim is whether the claimant can prove that the injury is the result of an accident that occurred during the scope of his/her employment.
Donāt be shocked if your workersā comp claim is initially denied. Your claim will be handled by your employerās insurance company, and though the law states that eligible workers must be awarded benefits, that doesnāt mean the amount you are offered will be fair. Having a trustworthy attorney by your side can help ensure that you are not taken advantage of.
In Maryland, you may receive workersā compensation benefits for:
- Medical care
- Partial wage reimbursement
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Temporary partial disability benefits (TPD)
- Temporary total disability benefits (TTD)
- Permanent partial disability benefits (PPD)
- Permanent total disability benefits (PTD)
- Death and funeral expenses
If youāre struggling to file your workersā comp claim in Waldorf or Charles County, get in touch with Trollinger Law LLC. Weāre here to help.
What To Do After A Workplace Injury
The steps you take after a workplace injury can either protect or hurt your workersā compensation claim. You should:
- Report the injury: You have 10 days to report the accident to your employer, but you should notify them as soon as possible. You or your employer will then file a claim with the Maryland Workersā Compensation Commission.
- Seek medical treatment: It is important that you seek medical attention for your injuries right away. You can choose your own doctor, although your employer may ask you to get a second opinion from another doctor. Whatever doctor you see, make sure you tell them the accident occurred on the job.
- Keep track of expenses: You should keep copies of everything including medical invoices, receipts, results from tests, prescriptions, and documents from medical treatments.
- Speak with a proven workersā compensation attorney: A lawyer can help with every phase of the workersā compensation process, from the initial filing of the claim through any appeals that may be necessary.
How Can a Workersā Comp Attorney Help Me?
If you have been injured on the job in Maryland, you have rights. You need someone to help you protect them.
Even when employers agree to pay workersā compensation benefits, it doesnāt guarantee that you will be paid what you deserve in a timely way. Put Trollinger Law LLC, to work for you.
Our Waldorf workersā compensation attorney can help you navigate the claims process to give you the best possible chance of obtaining maximum workersā comp benefits. If your claim has already been denied, Attorney Matt Trollinger can also represent you effectively during appeals.
Contact us online to schedule your free consultation today.