What is a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Glen Burnie?
All workplaces come with some risk of on-the-job injury. Some professions have more obvious hazards than others, but anyone could get hurt in the course of performing their job.
Maryland state law has long recognized workers’ compensation as a form of insurance coverage for injured employees. The law requires nearly all employers to have this insurance to protect their employees. These policies cover a variety of medical issues and expenses subject to certain terms and conditions.
An injured employee has to understand what a workers’ compensation claim in Glen Burnie is in order to navigate the system successfully. A dedicated workers’ comp attorney could help ensure that you meet the criteria for workers’ comp benefits and follow the proper procedure that helps safeguard your legal rights.
Understanding the Workers’ Compensation System
Workers’ compensation is a subcategory of employment law that allows all workers to be at liberty to earn a living without fear of the consequences of contracting an illness or sustaining a workplace injury. However, incidents happen, whether as a result of an overt or hidden job risk. The employee protection system gives workers an administrative avenue for seeking recovery to pay for medical bills and offset lost income.
Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Glen Burnie
There are several categories of benefits an employee can receive. These include medical care, temporary income reimbursement, and compensation for permanent injuries or loss of the ability to work.
Medical and Hospitalization Benefits
If an employee suffers an accidental injury or contracts an occupational disease, the employer or their insurance company can cover the cost of treatment. Treatments could include:
- In or out-patient hospital services
- Nursing services
- Medication
- Prosthetic devices
- Crutches or mobility apparatuses
- Surgery and physical therapy
- Psychiatric/psychological care
- Reimbursement for mileage
Benefits for Inability to Work or Reduced Capacity
There are different classifications of injury, depending on severity and duration. Benefits vary based on which class of injury an employee is in. The four categories are partial temporary, partial total, permanent partial, and permanent total disability.
Recoverable benefits could include wage compensation, which is typically the percentage of an employee’s pre-injury average weekly wage. The length of time an employee will receive benefits for depends on the seriousness of the injury.
Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits
Employees who have been disabled and are unable to hold the same job as before their injury may qualify for vocational rehabilitation benefits. These benefits aim to retrain employees for other work. Training could last up to 24 months and can include a work suitability assessment, counseling, training, and job placement services.
Wage Reimbursement Benefits
Anytime that an insurer or employer asks that an employee undergo an examination or medical assessment, workers deserve to recover wages lost during the time expended. Glen Burnie employees seeking reimbursement may also be eligible for transportation expenses.
Death Benefits
In the case of an employee’s death, dependents can bring a claim for death benefits. The amount varies depending on whether the deceased was the household’s sole earner. The length of death benefits varies from roughly 5 to 12 years, with certain exceptions. Additionally, survivors can recover reasonable funeral and burial costs.
Contact a Glen Burnie Attorney to Learn More About Workers’ Comp Claims
An employee injured at work has the right to seek workers’ comp benefits. Employee eligibility is just the first step. Meeting all criteria before filing for benefits requires diligence and attention to detail.
To this end, an attorney could help you understand the process, file forms correctly, and meet deadlines. Reach out to a lawyer to learn what a Glen Burnie workers’ compensation claim is and to learn more about your benefits application.
