Workers Compensation in Norfolk, VA
You aren’t alone if you wonder how workers’ compensation works.
Workers’ compensation is insurance that provides wage and medical benefits to people who have become ill or injured while at work. How far this coverage goes depends on Virginia state law.
If your injury or illness is eligible for compensation, the insurance carrier should help ease the financial burden.
Learn some of the basic principles of Virginia workers’ compensation insurance and how the process works.
Workers Compensation Statistics in Virginia?
Healthcare workers have the greatest number of workplace injuries, according to the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry. Because of the physical nature of these occupations, they have become even more dangerous than transportation and construction jobs. Still, it should be noted that the ship building industry in Norfolk also produces many workplace injuries due to heavy equipment, falling objects, and slip and falls.
How Does Workers Comp Work in , Virginia?
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.
The Virginia Workers Compensation Commission states that any business in Norfolk with more than 2 employees must, by law, carry workers’ compensation insurance. However, non-compensated officers of corporations are exempted from this statute. In Virginia, under the workers compensation plan you are eligible for medical care, lost wages compensation, and even death benefits. Mental health can also be covered in Virginia but on a case-by-case basis.
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 Virginia are critical for filing a claim. 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 receiving help from a Virginia healthcare professional. Taking too long could not only jeopardize your health, but you run the risk of missing deadlines.
Even if you believe your injury is minor, get a proper medical report detailing the extent of the damage and how it occurred. This step is the top priority in the workers’ compensation claim process. Otherwise, your employer cannot file a claim with the insurance carrier.
You may have regular checkups and testing for weeks or months before a doctor finally connects your illness with your job. Your medical records will become the foundation from which the workers’ comp carrier will launch its investigation.
Generally, your doctor determines if the illness happened because of your work conditions or became aggravated by them. Once they do, see your human resources representative to file a workers’ compensation claim.
File a First Report of Injury
Once you have a medical diagnosis relating your illness or injury to your job, you must file a claim with your employer.
The City of Norfolk provides several online forms and affidavits to help you file for workers’ compensation if you have been injured while performing your duties. If you are injured or develop a workplace illness, you should report it to your employer as soon as possible. This is to establish that you did suffer an injury on the work premises, or while performing a work-related task. After you report your injury you should seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Delaying treatment can cause the injury to get worse, which will cost more in medical treatments and recovery time. Once you have been treated it’s wise to ask the physician for 2 copies of the report. Keep 1 copy for yourself, and give one copy to your employer.
Timeline and Other Information
Temporary disability payments in Norfolk will expire after 500 weeks, or until you return to work, whichever comes first. If temporary disability ends and you are still unable to return to your occupation you can file for permanent disability.
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. Typically about the incident and to 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 , Virginia Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
While workers’ compensation claims may be straightforward for some cases in , Virginia, in others, it may be more difficult. For example, your employer may ask if you suffer an injury on the clock or on your own time. It’s also common for a company to question the full extent of your injury. Hiring a workers’ comp lawyer ensures that you have an advocate to fight for your rights as a victim.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In Virginia
If you are hurt or contract an illness as a result of your job in , 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!
About the Author
Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.
With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations.
