Workers Compensation in Baltimore, MD

You aren’t alone if you ask “How does workers comp work?” Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that provides wage and medical benefits to people who have become ill or injured while at work. The extent of workers’ comp coverage an employer is required to carry is governed by Maryland state law. Thus, in trying to figure out how workers comp works, it helps to understand the laws on the books in the state where the business operates. If the injury or illness a worker sustains is eligible for compensation, the insurance carrier should help ease the financial burden the illness or injury created on the worker. Learn some of the basic principles of Baltimore, MD workers’ compensation insurance and how the process works.

Workers Compensation Statistics in Baltimore, Maryland?

Maryland’s Department of Labor reported over 62,000 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses. Moreover, 96.6% of all workplace incidents were injuries. The highest rates of injury were in health care and social assistance, as well as animal slaughtering and processing. Baltimore is an established centre of medicine, so it might have higher rates than other nearby cities. In local government, occupations that experienced the most days missed were law enforcement officers, janitors, and cleaners.

How Does Workers Comp Work in Baltimore, Maryland?

Unfortunately, going through the process of applying for workers’ compensation begins with getting sick or injured on the job. The circumstances surrounding the incident that led to your problems are especially crucial. For example, the injury had to occur during your regular work duties. While an event that happens during your lunch break wouldn’t apply, getting into a car accident while running an errand for your boss would qualify for a claim. 

Maryland’s Workers’ Compensation Commission stipulates that every business must carry workers’ compensation coverage. An exception applies for agricultural employers with fewer than three employees. Benefits include temporary & permanent disability, medical bills coverage, and vocational rehabilitation. Mental injuries are not explicitly covered by State law. However, there have been cases with the Maryland Court of Appeals that determined PTSD was a compensable occupational disease.

For example, say your supervisor asked you to drop something off on your lunch break. While running this errand you then get in a car accident on your way to the destination. Any resulting injury is eligible for workers’ compensation. However, if you are on your lunch break, performing no such task when you get in an accident, it does not qualify for a claim.

The steps you take immediately following a workplace incident in Baltimore, MD are critical for purposes of filing a claim for compensation. Follow the following steps to preserve your rights and learn how workers comp works.

Get Medical Attention

After you get injured or feel ill, the first step is to see a doctor. Don’t delay seeking help from a Baltimore, MD healthcare professional. This could not only jeopardize your health, but you run the risk of missing time-sensitive deadlines in the workers’ compensation process. Having a proper medical report detailing the extent of the damage and how it occured is the first step in the process. Your employer cannot file a claim with their insurance carrier without this information.

When dealing with a job-related illness, the symptoms and diagnosis may not happen right away. You may find yourself attending regular checkups and testing for weeks or months before a doctor finally associates your illness with your job. Your doctor may make the determination that the illness is either the result of your work conditions or aggravated by them. Once they do, see your human resources representative to file a workers’ compensation claim.

File a First Report of Injury

The first report of an on the job injury or illness will provide the workers’ compensation insurance carrier with the details of the events leading up to the injury. In this report, you will provide your physical injuries, the medical treatment you received and the facilities that provided it. It’s always a good idea to bring a copy of the doctor’s report to submit with the report of injury.

An injured worker must notify the employer within 10 days of the injury. The employer then files a First Report of Injury or Illness with the Worker’s Compensation Commission. This Report must be filed within 10 days of learning of the injury. The employee also files Claim Form C-1 with the Commission. Of note, the statute of limitations for filing a claim is 2 years from the date of injury. If you live in Baltimore, the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission is conveniently located at 10 East Baltimore Street.

Timeline and Other Information

Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission stipulates you are entitled to temporary total disability benefits if you miss more than 3 days of work.  If you miss more than 14 days, you should be paid retroactively for the first 3 days. Within 21 days of filing your Claim, the insurer should begin payments. You can receive two thirds of your average weekly wage, but no more than the State’s average weekly wage. These benefits may continue so long as you are unable to work. Or, until you reach Maximum Medical Improvement.

Your employer should furnish you with information about the claims process. The adjuster or insurance carrier representative may want to speak to you at some point about the incident and any possible witnesses to the event. In the meantime, the workers’ comp insurer may begin paying medical benefits while the investigation into your claim continues.

Why You Should Hire a Baltimore, Maryland Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

While workers’ compensation claims may be straightforward for some cases in Baltimore, Maryland, in others it may be more difficult. For example, your employer may decide to question whether you were hurt on the clock or your own time. It’s also common for a company to question the full extent of your injury. Hiring a Baltimore workers’ comp lawyer ensures that you have an advocate to fight for your rights as a victim.

Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In Baltimore, Maryland

If you are hurt or contract an illness as a result of your job in Baltimore, MD you need to find the right people to help. Since the workers’ compensation claims process can have pitfalls, you should consider getting a local attorney who knows how to avoid them. 

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!