Road map for Workers’ Compensation Claims in Maryland

If you are injured at work in Maryland, you need to take several steps to make sure you secure your rights under the workers’ compensation law of Maryland.

This is a good road map. But remember, a consultation is free, and having an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can be invaluable,  so don’t hesitate to contact us to find out for sure. And see our Free Legal Guide to Workers’ Compensation in Maryland to discovery everything you need to know.

(1) Report the injury to your boss

You must report any injury to your boss as soon as you can. Failure to do that may cause your claim to be denied. This is why we recommend you report even minor injuries.

If you didn’t do this when the accident happened, just do it now. Better late than never.

(2) Talk to a Lawyer

Get some good advice before you do too much. The consult for a workers’ comp claim is free, so you have nothing to lose.

(3) File a claim.

You must file a formal claim with the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission in Baltimore. This is NOT the same as the insurance company handling your claim. People call them both “workers’ comp” but they are not the same thing. Your claim is not safe until you file with the WCC – an arm of the Maryland state government. All claims are now online, so this is easy to do. But it is best if you contact us so we can help you file your claim. We can also do it for you during your free consultation.

(4) Get medical care

Don’t tough it out. Get checked out by a doctor as soon as you can. It is always best to get good and early medical care for your injury. The insurance company has to pay the bill and you get to choose your own doctor.

If your employer or an insurance company gives you any grief about getting medical care after an injury at work, call a Maryland workers’ compensation lawyer immediately. Your medical care is too valuable to delay.

(5) Get your benefits

There are several available to you. Our Free Legal Guide to Workers’ Compensation claims in Maryland explains them all. Make sure you are getting the right benefits, and the amount they are paying is fair under the law.

I know I sound like a repeating parrot, but you should really talk to a lawyer about this. It is a free consultation, so you have nothing to los.

(6) Hearings?

If you have a dispute with the insurer, you can request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge called a Workers’ Compensation Commissioner. They will decide the matter after a contested hearing.

Just because the insurance company makes a decision, doesn’t mean you have to accept it. They are not the final boss!

(7) Recovery

Recover from your injuries and get back to work. You will never make as much on comp benefits as you will working, so you should try to get back to work as soon as possible. Plus, Maryland law, and the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission, will really want you to return to work as soon as possible.

(8) Get your permanent partial disability benefits

Permanent partial disability benefits are specific benefits under the law that are better explained in more detail at this link. They are the last benefit you typically get in a comp claim. People sometimes call it their “settlement” which is not quite true.

This last benefit is the one that an injured worker is least likely to get without a lawyer. It seems everyone knows that if you get injured at work, they have to pay you while you are off work, and cover your medical care. But not everyone knows that there is another benefit available at the end of the case that pays you for the fact you have been injured, and you are now a little less than 100%.

Conclusion & Next Steps

We hope this has been a helpful road map of your Maryland workers’ compensation claim. Remember, a consultation with a lawyer is always free for workers comp. Don’t hesitate to call us.

Want to Know More? Discover what you need to know in our Free Legal Guide to Workers’ Compensation in Maryland. Know your options. Be informed. Protect yourself.

Need a Workers’ Compensation Attorney? Please contact us for a consultation if you need a Waldorf Maryland Workers’ Compensation lawyer.

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Author: This content was written and approved by Tucker Clagett, an attorney at Southern Maryland Law – Andrews, Bongar, Gormley & Clagett.