Workers’ compensation insurance in Maryland covers a wide range of injuries suffered “out of and in the course of” employment. Unfortunately, some of these injuries are severe, leaving the worker who suffers them with life-long permanent disabilities. Workers’ compensation provides coverage for workers who suffer either partial or total permanent disabilities.
Contact our Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers at (301) 932-9997 to get a free consultation today.
What Is Permanent Total Disability?
A “permanent total disability” under Maryland’s workers’ compensation law is one that leaves the worker unable to do any kind of work. By law, the state recognizes the loss of both eyes, hands, arms, legs, or feet as a permanent total disability. Maryland law also recognizes the loss of two of any of these body parts as a permanent total disability. For instance, a worker who loses an eye and a hand, or an arm and a leg, would be considered totally permanently disabled.
Other types of injuries can also cause permanent total disabilities, even if the law doesn’t specifically list them. For instance, a fall from scaffolding or another height while on the job might cause a spinal cord injury that leads to paralysis, leaving the worker unable to do any other type of job. Workers with permanent total disabilities from these kinds of injuries will need medical records and other evidence to show their employer’s workers’ compensation insurer and/or the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission that they are, in fact, permanently and totally disabled.
What Is Permanent Partial Disability?
A “permanent partial disability” is one that prevents a worker from doing some kinds of work permanently, but not others. For instance, losing a finger is generally considered a “permanent partial disability” under state workers’ compensation law.
Workers who suffer permanent partial disabilities may receive weekly workers’ compensation payments for a certain amount of time, based on the injury. For instance, a worker who loses a thumb may receive payments for 100 weeks, while a worker who loses the fourth or “little” finger may receive payments for 25 weeks. These workers are also eligible for vocational rehabilitation, paid for by workers’ compensation, to help them adjust to jobs they can do even with a permanent partial disability.
Workers’ compensation payments for permanent partial disabilities are calculated by taking two-thirds of the workers’ average weekly wage in the 14 weeks immediately prior to the accident. If that number is higher than the average weekly wage statewide, it is reduced to equal the average weekly wage statewide. If that number is lower than $50.00, the worker gets 100 percent of his or her average weekly wage.
Does Workers’ Comp Cover Medical Bills for Permanent Disabilities?
Workers’ compensation insurance covers medical bills for “accidental personal injuries arising out of and in the course of employment,” regardless of how severe or disabling the injury is. The medical bills for treating an injury at work are generally covered by workers’ compensation, including doctor and hospital bills, prescription drugs, physical therapy, and medical equipment. A worker who is permanently disabled may also have workers’ compensation coverage for things like prosthetic limbs, mobility devices, and other needs caused by the disabling accident and/or injury.
Are There Other Disability Benefits?
In addition to workers’ compensation coverage, a permanently disabled worker may be eligible for Social Security disability, Medicare, and other disability coverage programs.
Protecting Your Rights, Obtaining Just Compensation
At Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers, our team of experienced Maryland permanent disability lawyers is dedicated to helping disabled and injured workers and their families get the compensation they need and deserve after an injury. We understand that coping with physical pain on top of emotional trauma and mounting medical bills is not easy, that is why we are here to help you through the process of filing your workers’ compensation claim and obtaining rightful compensation.
For a free and confidential consultation, call us today at 301) 932-9997, or use our free online form to contact our office.