Understanding Permanent Disability Benefits in Maryland Workers’ Compensation
July 18, 2023
In the best-case scenario, you can return to work after your work-related injury. In the meantime, you may receive temporary benefits until you can recover. The hope is that medical treatment and rehabilitation, paid for by the Workers’ Compensation insurance company, would restore you to the health you had before your accident or injury. Unfortunately, there are times when you may never fully recover from what happened. In that event, you may receive extended benefits, the amount and duration of which depend on your exact physical condition.
Once you reach the point of maximum medical improvement (MMI), you will be medically examined to determine whether you can return to work. If you can return to work in some form, you may have permanent limitations because of your health condition. You may be legally entitled to ongoing Workers’ Compensation benefits if you have a permanent disability.
Disabilities Can Be Partial or Total
Disabilities can differ in severity. Some people may still have some physical functioning to the point where they can do some work. They may not be able to do the same work they did before being hurt. Still, they retain some capacity to work. This condition would be treated as a permanent partial disability. You will never fully heal, but you can do some work. You could return to your job with restrictions, or you may be able to take a different job.
Permanent partial disability benefits will reflect that you still have some income-earning options. Maryland has a complex system for determining permanent partial disability benefits, and there is room for significant disagreements between the claimant and the insurance company.
You May Disagree With the Insurance Company
There are many ways that you and the insurance company would have a difference of opinion, including:
- Whether you can do any work at all.
- The tier of your injury.
- Percentage of disability.
You can challenge the determination about your disability with help from a lawyer.
Call Our Baltimore Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton to Discuss Your Situation
Our Baltimore Workers’ Compensation lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton can guide you through the legal process after a work accident. Call us at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
We have offices in Baltimore, Glen Burnie, Lanham, and Owings Mills, allowing us to represent clients in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.