Reston Workers Compensation Lawyer

Serious injuries deserve experienced attorneys

Workers Compensation Lawyer Reston, VA

If you have a workers compensation claim and your employer does not have insurance or denied your claim, it may be time to discuss your situation with a reliable workers compensation lawyer Reston, VA workers recommend.

Workers compensation programs were created with the intention to provide certain benefits to employees who sustained injuries or became ill because of their job. Examples of workers compensation benefits include medical care, wage replacement, vocational rehabilitation, and other things to help workers with valid workers compensation claims.

In this article we delve into workers compensation benefits a little further but keep in mind, only a workers compensation lawyer who is licensed to work in Reston and throughout VA is qualified to give you legal advice about your claim in Reston.

Reporting Accidents Immediately

If you were to suffer an accident while at work, you should always report the incident to your employer immediately.

Some employees may wait to see if the injury gets worse before reporting it. This may hinder your claim approval odds if you did not address the injury promptly.

It is also possible that an employer may not treat a workers compensation benefits application with proper attention and care.

To find out what the specific requirements are in your Reston claim, talk to a reputable workers compensation lawyer who is licensed to help VA workers.

Mishandling of Claim

Despite the positive intentions of a workers benefits program, there may be instances where an employer attempts to discourage a worker from filing a claim. This may be particularly true for injuries or illnesses that are costly and long-term. An employer may be pressured to save the company money by fumbling with the employee’s claim. If any of the following red flags apply to your Reston, VA claim, we highly recommend meeting with a workers compensation lawyer at Cohen & Cohen right away. Here are just a few signs that your employer may not be treating your claim with due diligence:

• Your employer makes subtle hints that you should not file a claim
• Your employer is late turning in the workers compensation paperwork, or forgot to submit it entirely
• Your employer does not keep you updated on the status of your application
• Your employer minimizes the symptoms you are experiencing related to the work injury or illness
• Your employer has changed your job duties or relocated you to another department since filing a workers compensation claim

If any of the above have happened to you or if you feel like you have been wronged in other ways, discussing your situation with a workers compensation lawyer who is familiar with Reston, VA courts and judges, may help you to make more informed decisions on what you should do next.

Examples of Injuries Not Covered

Workers may be eligible for benefits regardless of who was at-fault for the accident, with a couple exceptions. A worker may be denied coverage if they caused the injury or illness intentionally, or was under the influence of alcohol or drugs when the accident happened. Other reasons for a denial of workers compensation application can include:

• The injuries were caused as a result of the worker committing a crime
• The injuries did not occur while on the job site, or while on the clock
• The employee violated a company policy when the accident occurred

The information in this article is not intended as legal advice. To find out how VA laws may affect your Reston workers compensation claim, contact a lawyer who is experienced with successfully defending the rights of Virginia workers.

Burden of Proof

The burden of proof needed to be successful in receiving workers compensation benefits lies with the employee. He or she has to prove that they were carrying out tasks for their employer when the accident occurred. When a worker’s work and home environment are one and the same, the dangers that the employee may encounter by working at home are also considered employment hazards. According to the law, the employer is required to offer a safe environment for working to all employees, regardless of where they perform their duties. If you or someone you love was injured or became ill while working at home in a work related incident, workers compensation lawyers who are licensed to protect people in Reston and throughout VA, may be able to help you.

Even though a company is not able to regulate what occurs in an employee’s home work environment, workers compensation insurance benefits must be available in case there is an accident of any kind. Just because the accident happens at home outside the employer’s control over the home office, does not change the fact that the employee can file a claim for workers compensation should he or she become injured while working.

Non-Employees Not Covered

If you are an independent contractor or freelancer for a company, the workers compensation laws do not apply to you. Only employees of a company can file claims for workers comp. However, some contractors can claim they were treated as employees if they are working exclusively for one employer. If you are unsure of whether or not you are covered under workers compensation laws in Reston or someplace else in VA, it may be helpful to discuss your situation with lawyers who are qualified to handle these kinds of claims.

One of the most significant developments in the struggle for workers rights is granting injured employees access to workers compensation benefits. Our firm aids individuals in obtaining these benefits because we believe that when workers are injured or made ill on the job that they should receive the compensation they are entitled to without delay. Too often, individuals who do not collaborate with workers compensation lawyers who are experienced in dealing with Reston, VA courts and judges are denied benefits, or their claims get so wrapped up in red tape that their financial stability is challenged as they wait for their claims to be paid out.

Injury or Illness at Work

State workers compensation laws generally require that workers who are injured, made ill or disabled on the job, be provided with benefit payments. Federal employees are granted similar benefits under the federal government’s workers compensation insurance program. Although there are some exceptions, when a worker is injured, made ill or disabled on the job, he or she is generally entitled to receive benefits. If the injury, illness or disability is significant, occurred on the job and was not sustained due to carelessness or self-infliction, workers are generally covered.

To find out more about how workers compensation benefits may apply to your particular situation, contact a reputable Restons, VA workers compensation lawyer to help you make more informed decisions about what to do next.

It is worth noting that some workers are excluded from coverage. But if you fall into one of these categories, we can advise you of other legal options that may be available to you. Generally excluded from receiving benefits are independent contractors, railroad and maritime workers, business owners, volunteers, farm laborers and workers employed in private homes. It is also worth noting that the workers compensation system generally does not allow injured workers to sue for additional compensation in court.

Why Claims Are Worth the Trouble

There are times when navigating the benefit claims process is a headache. Benefits may be initially denied, workers may be sent to multiple physicians for evaluations, and delays may occur for seemingly no reason at all. Filing a claim is generally worth the trouble though because of all the expenses that these benefits may cover.

To get help in determining what your best course of action is, try to get a free consultation from a Reston, VA workers compensation lawyer that has a track record of successfully defending the rights of workers in VA and its surrounding communities.

For example, workers may be eligible for wage replacement (at a certain rate and for a certain period of time) if their illness, injury or disability caused them to miss work. Benefits may also cover medical expenses, retraining expenses if a worker is no longer able to perform his or her original duties, survivor benefits to the families of those killed on the job and compensation for injuries, illnesses or disabilities that are permanent.

We Are Here to Help

Navigating the process of filing for workers compensation benefits can be frustrating. We are here to help you deal with that process so that you can focus your time and energy on healing. Please consider speaking with our firm today so that you do not have to wait any longer than absolutely necessary to receive any benefits you may be entitled to.

Hiring an Attorney

At Cohen & Cohen, our team of lawyers has been dedicated to protecting the rights of workers since starting our firm over 25 years ago. We understand that a mishandling of your claim can have a negative effect on your approval odds for benefits. It is not required that you hire a lawyer regarding your claim but it is advisable to consult with one if you feel that something about your application process did not feel right. The process behind workers compensation benefits can be tricky, so it can help to have a legal professional on your side.

For a highly rated workers compensation lawyer Reston, VA workers and their families can rely on, contact Cohen & Cohen for a free case evaluation with no obligations.