Maryland Workers’ Compensation Attorneys

How Can Alpert Schreyer Injury Accident Lawyers Help Me?

At Alpert Schreyer Injury Accident Lawyers, our Maryland workers’ compensation attorneys are dedicated to helping injured workers receive the fair, complete compensation that helps them heal properly and return to work without severe financial harm. We have a reputation for success in these complex cases, utilizing decades of litigation and trial experience and our considerable resources and manpower to seek the best possible result for every client.

Some of our workers’ compensation victories include:

• Our attorneys argued before The Maryland Worker’s Compensation Commission and increased our client’s workers’ comp from $85,000 to over $315,000 for a shoulder injury.
• Our firm mediated a $335,000 settlement for a warehouse employee who was injured in a forklift accident, suffering back injuries.

If you are out of work for more than three days and need medical care, it is imperative that you speak with a Maryland workers’ compensation attorney from our firm right away! The best way to ensure your rights are protected is to have a legal advocate fighting on your behalf.

Does My Injury Qualify for Workers’ Compensation?

The legal guidelines concerning workers’ compensation benefits are in the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) Act. Under the MOSH Act, workers who have suffered work-related injuries and illnesses can be paid benefits, as long as their injuries fall within specific guidelines.

To qualify for workers’ compensation:

• You must be an employee.
• Your injury must have arisen “out of and in the course of employment.”
• Occupational illnesses must be caused by the nature of your job or work environment.

An injury that arises “out of” employment is one that occurs while the worker is doing the work he or she was hired to do, according to the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission. An injury that arises “in the course of” employment looks at the time, place, and circumstances of the injury. For instance, an injury that takes place in the office during normal work hours is likely to be considered “in the course of” employment, but an injury that takes place while the worker is putting in voluntary overtime while sitting in a local coffee shop may not.

In addition, an injury must also be an “accidental personal injury” to be covered. Intentionally-inflicted injuries may not be covered by workers’ compensation, whether the worker intentionally inflicted them on him- or herself or they were intentionally inflicted by another person. However, workers who were intentionally injured by another may have the ability to file a civil lawsuit and/or pursue a criminal claim against the intentional injurer.

Maryland Workers’ Comp Benefits

Workers’ compensation benefits in Maryland are meant to cover the various losses that result from being seriously injured while on the job. The goal is to keep workers from suffering major financial loss while being injured, unable to work, and in need of medical care.

If you qualify for workers’ compensation, you may be entitled to the following benefits:

• Medical Treatment/Hospitalization – Workers’ comp will pay for hospital and nursing services, crutches and other medical apparatuses, medicine, and artificial limbs, if you required these after your on-the-job incident.
• Wage Reimbursement – Time lost at work due to injury or while completing required medical examinations and workers’ comp commission hearings is reimbursed.
• Temporary Total Disability – If you are completely unable to work, but your injuries will heal, you will be paid for this “healing period.”
• Temporary Partial Disability – If you are able to work, but your injuries prevent you from being able to fulfill all of your duties for a limited amount of time, causing you to earn less, benefits will pay 50% of the difference between your average weekly earnings and what you receive while disabled.
• Permanent Total Disability – You can receive benefits for permanent injuries that prevent you from ever returning to work.
• Permanent Partial Disability – A permanent injury that partially impairs your ability to work will result in weekly payments. Different types of injuries are entitled to different amounts of compensation for different lengths of time.
• Vocational Rehabilitation – If your injuries prevent you from returning to your field of work, benefits will pay for vocational rehabilitation for up to 24 months, which will give you new work skills compatible with your disability.

While you may not need all of these benefits depending on the extent of your injuries, fully understanding the scope of your losses and what you will need to recover is vital in gaining full and fair compensation.

Workers’ Compensation Commission Hearings

If you have permanent injuries, miss extended time at work, or your employer is disputing whether an injury occurred, then it is likely that you will need to present your case in front of a Commissioner at a Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission hearing. Attorneys for the insurance company and employer are skilled at using the Maryland Rules of Evidence and knowledgeable about limiting your rights at these hearings. Unless you are represented by a skilled lawyer, it is unlikely that you will be successful in protecting your rights.

Do not fight this battle alone. An experienced attorney will better understand the goals of the people who oppose you and whether you have made case-jeopardizing mistakes. Together, we can find success and begin the path to recovery and a successful career.

Frequently Asked Questions About Workers’ Compensation in Maryland