Howard County Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

Workplace injuries can happen when you least expect it, regardless of whether you work at a construction site, a warehouse, in retail, or in an office. While some industries are known for being more potentially hazardous than others, even the most seemingly low risk environments can have unexpected risks.

Injuries that occur on the job can range from minor cuts, muscle strains, and general aches and pains to broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, amputations and even death. Fortunately, all employees are eligible for Workers’ Compensation benefits, which provide financial relief for things like medical expenses, lost wages, and disability benefits if your injury prevents you from being able to return to work.

At LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton, our Workers’ Compensation lawyers in Howard County have been protecting the rights of injured workers for over 30 years. We are committed to helping hard working employees secure the benefits they deserve so they can focus on recovering from their injury.

Filing a Workers’ Compensation claim can be a complex process, and we will guide you through every step, addressing all of your questions and concerns along the way. The following will provide an overview of the Workers’ Compensation process and the benefits you are entitled to receive if you’ve been hurt on the job.

Overview of Workers’ Compensation Benefits

If an employee has been injured on the job, they are entitled to the following benefits:

Coverage of all medical bills related to the injury, including hospitalization, surgical procedures, prescription medication, physical therapy, home health services, and chiropractic services.
Reimbursement for lost wages, including permanent, temporary, partial, or total disability benefits if the worker is unable to return to work immediately following the injury.
Vocational services if the worker is no longer physically or mentally able to fulfill his or her job responsibilities. Vocational services help injured employees return to the workforce in some capacity by providing job training, professional career counselling, and job placement services.
Death benefits for the family if the workplace injury was fatal. Oftentimes, this will also include the cost of the funeral.

The only time an employee may not be eligible for Workers’ Compensation benefits is if the individual was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the injury, or if he or she was involved in any illegal activity. Depending on the circumstances, some independent contractors or temporary employees may not be eligible if they cannot prove that there was a true employee-employer relationship.

Examples of Common Workplace Injuries

While certain types of injuries are more likely to occur at busy construction sites or warehouses that require workers to operate heavy equipment, serious injuries can occur in any work environment. The following are examples of workplace injuries that are covered by Workers’ Compensation:

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
Back and neck injuries
Amputations
Broken bones
Sprains and strains
Foot and ankle injuries
Scars and disfigurement
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

If your injury causes you to miss more than three days of work, you may receive disability benefits, which are a percentage of your weekly salary. If you are out of work for more than two weeks, you may receive some form of disability benefits. The type and amount you receive will depend on the nature of your injury and how long you anticipate being out of work. For example, Temporary Total Disability benefits are two-thirds of a weekly salary and the employee will receive this payment for as long as they are unable to work, or until they reach maximum medical improvement. If the disability prevents the employee from being able to work in any capacity, they will likely receive payments indefinitely.