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If you have been hurt on the job or developed a medical condition due to your work, state law may entitle you to financial benefits. This compensation can pay for your medical treatment and help you make up for lost income if you miss work during your recovery. You deserve to seek workers’ compensation benefits to help you recover from a work injury or occupational disease.
Contact the Louisa workers’ compensation attorneys at Marks & Harrison to discuss how we could help you file and pursue your claim for benefits or appeal a claim that has been denied.
What Workers’ Compensation Benefits Can I Receive?
When you are hurt on the job in Louisa, you can file a claim with your employer to receive workers’ compensation benefits while you recover from your injury. Benefits available under the Virginia workers’ compensation system include the following:
- Medical benefits — Workers’ comp benefits pay for all reasonable treatment of a work injury or occupational illness. This includes doctor’s visits, hospitalization, surgeries and other procedures, medical tests, physical therapy, and prescriptions. Medical benefits can also reimburse you for costs to travel to medical appointments or procedures.
- Temporary disability benefits — When you cannot work because of your work-related injury or illness, temporary disability benefits provide money to partially make up for a loss of wages or income.
- Permanent partial disability benefits — If you are partially disabled, these benefits are payable when you reach maximum medical improvement of your injury or condition. Permanent partial disability benefits provide you with financial payments based on the type and severity of a permanent impairment you have sustained.
- Permanent total disability benefits — So long as you remain completely unable to work due to your work-related injury or illness, permanent total disability benefits continue wage replacement.
- Death benefits — Death benefits provide compensation to surviving dependents and contribution toward burial expenses and transportation costs.
How Do I File a Claim for Workers’ Comp in Louisa?
Steps for filing a claim for workers’ compensation benefits in Louisa include:
- Notify your employer of a workplace accident or work-related diagnosis as soon as possible.
- Seek prompt medical attention. Make sure to notify your treating provider that you were involved in a workplace accident or are seeing them for a work injury or occupational illness.
- Your employer should file a report of accident or disease with the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission within ten days of you giving notice of your injury or illness. However, you should also file your own claim for benefits form with the commission. Claim forms can be filed in person, by mail, by fax, or online.
How Long Do I Have to File for Workers’ Comp in Louisa?
Under Virginia’s workers’ compensation law, you are expected to notify your employer of a workplace accident you were involved in or your diagnosed work injury within 30 days. You also have two years to file a claim for benefits form with the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission to seek workers’ comp benefits.
Not providing timely notice to your employer or not filing a claim form with the commission may lead to your workers’ compensation claim being denied. This makes it critical to tell your employer if you know or think you have been hurt at work. You should also speak with a Louisa workers’ compensation attorney who can make sure your rights to workers’ compensation benefits are pursued on time.
What Factors Can Affect How Much Money I Receive from Workers’ Comp?
While workers’ compensation can provide you with financial payments to help you recover from a work injury or occupational illness, the amount of money you receive will depend on factors such as the following:
- Your pre-injury income — Temporary wage replacement benefits offer two-thirds of your average weekly wage, based on the 52 weeks of earning before your injury or illness.
- The type and degree of permanent impairment — Virginia law has a schedule of payments based on the degree of permanent loss.
- Whether you are totally disabled — If you have been totally and permanently disabled from doing any kind of gainful work, you may be entitled to continued wage replacement benefits.
What Do I Do If My Workers’ Comp Claim Is Denied?
If your employer has denied your workers’ comp claim, you have the option to file a claim for benefits with the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission. You can request a formal hearing before a deputy commissioner, which will rule on your eligibility for workers’ comp benefits and calculate the financial benefits you are entitled to. A compassionate workers’ compensation attorney can help you through the appeal process to pursue the benefits you need to recover.
How Can Marks & Harrison Help Me with My Workers’ Compensation Claim?
If you have sustained a work injury or occupational disease, you may not know what to do to get the workers’ compensation benefits you may be entitled. Let the workers compensation lawyers at Marks & Harrison help you get the full benefits you deserve in your workers’ comp claim by:
- Taking the time to sit down with you to discuss the facts and details of your case
- Making sure you understand your legal options and what is involved in the workers’ compensation claim process
- Gathering your medical records and bills, invoices, and receipts for unreimbursed expenses
- Working with your treating healthcare providers to document your injuries and determine your prognosis and future medical needs
- Communicating with your employer and its insurer on your behalf regarding your workers’ comp claim
- Keeping you updated on the progress of your claim
- Filing a formal claim with the state workers’ compensation commission if necessary
- Fully pursuing your rights in workers’ comp hearings, or in court if necessary
Talk to a Louisa Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Now
After suffering a work-related injury or illness, contact a Louisa workers’ compensation lawyer at Marks & Harrison right away. We know how important these benefits are to your health and livelihood. We’ll provide you with a free consultation to discuss how we could help you seek the benefits you’re entitled to. Call us or reach out to us online now. Our Louisa personal injury lawyers can help.
