All employers in Virginia must pay for workers’ compensation insurance. The insurance provides benefits to workers, who are injured in an on-job accident, or have been diagnosed with job-related illnesses. If you have been injured on the job, you should at least know your rights and laws that govern the system. Talking to one of Fairfax workers’ compensation lawyers can be immensely useful in this regard. In this post, we are sharing an outline of workers’ compensation laws in Virginia.
What does workers’ compensation cover?
The basic premise of the workers’ compensation system is to offer benefits when someone gets injured or sick at work. There are various things covered in the workers’ compensation system, including disability payments, which is offered to the injured worker, if a work-related injury has caused a temporary or permanent disability. The workers’ comp insurance also covers for the medical bills related to treatment after an injury, or after occupational disease is diagnosed. The system offers benefits to employees who have suffered repetitive stress injuries. A percentage of wage loss is also covered through the insurance. If a work-related accident resulted in death, the immediate family can claim death benefits.
Informing the employer
Injured workers must report the injury to the employer as soon as possible, or within 30 days, from the date of accident. The injured worker must also file a claim with Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission, and there is a deadline or time limit of two years for that. The same rules and requirements apply to work-related illnesses and diseases. Even if the employer has informed the Commission, it doesn’t amount to filing a claim. It is the responsibility of the injured worker to file the claim and provide evidence.
Things to know
Make sure that you report your injury and/or illness as soon as possible. If you ever suffer an unexpected injury and need emergency medical treatment, do inform the doctors that this was a work-related injury. It is also in your interest that you consider hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer, who can take over and investigate the matter on your behalf. They will do their part of enquiry and gather details, so that your claim is not rejected on flimsy grounds. Your workers’ compensation lawyer is also going to negotiate with the insurance company. Note that you cannot file a lawsuit, or sue your employer, so negotiations with the insurer will matter.
If your claim is rejected, your lawyer can help with appeals.
