Professional Workers Compensation Attorney Helping Clients In Hampton, VA.

On-the-job injuries affect hundreds of workers every year. While some workers will get medical treatment and then be able to return to work quickly, others will be left with serious disabilities that may be permanent. Regardless of the severity of the injury, if you are hurt while performing a work-related task and need medical care or have to miss work, you are probably entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.

Am I Covered by Workers’ Compensation Insurance?

If you are an employee in the state of Virginia, then you are probably covered under workers’ compensation insurance. In fact, state law mandates that most employers carry workers’ compensation insurance; exceptions to this mandate are for businesses with fewer than two employees.

What Do I Have to Prove to Get Benefits?

The great thing about workers’ compensation insurance is that it is a no-fault system. This means that regardless of why your accident occurred, you do not need to prove that anyone acted with fault or negligence. It also means that you can recover benefits even if you contributed to or caused the accident resulting in your injuries.

What Benefits Am I Entitled To?

If you are injured on the job, there are a number of types of benefits that workers’ compensation insurance provides. These include:

• Medical benefits. You are entitled to coverage for your medical costs, including doctor’s visits, prescription medications, medical tests, physical therapy, and anything else determined necessary and reasonable.

• Lost wages. Suppose you are unable to return to work because of a temporary total disability. In that case, you can recover compensation for your lost wages at a rate of 66 ⅔ percent of your average weekly rate. Benefits for your lost wages start only after you have missed a full eight days of work.

• Disability benefits. If your disability qualifies for a permanent impairment rating, you can recover disability benefits.

• Death benefits. Virginia workers’ compensation also provides death benefits in the form of compensation to dependents and burial expenses to loved ones when a workplace accident results in fatal injuries.

Guiding You through the Workers’ Compensation Process

While most employers are required under law to carry workers’ compensation insurance, and most employees in Virginia are entitled to benefits when they are injured on the job, the truth is, employees are not always paid the compensation they deserve. Employers or insurance companies may deny claims to save money or even retaliate against an employee who files a claim.