Workplace and on-job accidents are unfortunate but happen all the time. In Virginia, all employers who are employing more than three people are required to have workers’ compensation insurance by law. If you ever get injured on the job, you can ask for compensation through workers’ compensation, which will cover for things like loss of wages and medical bills.
To get the compensation, you have to prove that the injury occurred during the course of employment and was related to a job-related task. For instance, if you had a heart attack during lunch, this may not qualify for benefits under workers’ compensation insurance. One of the best steps is to engage a Virginia workers’ compensation lawyer, who can guide through the process. In this post, we are sharing more on workers’ compensation laws in the state.
Filing a claim
To get the benefits of workers’ compensation, an injured employee should report the incident to an employer within 30 days from the date of injury. The employee must also report the incident and his/her injuries to Virginia Workers Compensation Commission within a time period of two years. It is worth knowing that workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance in Virginia, which means that even if the accident involved a part role on your behalf, you are still entitled to get the benefits. Also, you cannot sue your employer in Virginia for workplace accidents.
Knowing the benefits
There are different benefits that one can get through workers’ compensation when injured on the job. The first is obviously medical benefits, which will cover for the reasonable and basic medical expenses and treatments. Since the employee is likely to be out of work, loss of wages is also covered, besides permanent disability benefits where applicable. If an on-job accident led to the death of a loved one, dependent children and/or the spouse may file for death benefits.
Why do you need an attorney?
The workers’ compensation system is not just complex, but for most injured workers, the whole accident and its aftermath can be overwhelming. You need a workers’ compensation lawyer, who can guide you through the state laws, help in understanding the extent of your injuries and losses, and give a fair idea of what to expect in settlement.
If you want to know more about a lawyer, check their case profile and figure out what percentage of their practice is dedicated to workers’ compensation cases and employment law.
