Maryland Worker's Compensation Law
The purpose of Workers' Compensation law is to protect and provide assistance to workers who are injured on the job. The law is designed to provide relief for those who are injured and an incentive to employers to have a safe work place so that fewer injuries will occur. An employee is entitled to benefits without regard to whose fault the accident was but may not sue the employer foradditional damages if the injury was the employer's fault.
Unfortunately, not all injuries are covered under Maryland law. How you were injured is very important. To obtain benefits you must have sustained one of the following:
- An Accidental Injury;
- An Occupational Disease; or
- A Hernia
Each of these injuries have specific definitions which you must understand to protect yourself. The benefits that you may claim include:
- Full payment for medical treatment from the doctor of your choice
- Money while you are unable to work; either totally or partially
- Money for any permanent disability you may have even if you can return to the full requirements of your job
- Vocational rehabilitation benefits if you cannot return to your job
- Reimbursement for prescriptions, mileage, and parking
Frequently Asked Maryland Workers' Compensation Questions
- Is my injury covered under Maryland Worker's Compensation law?
- How long do I have to file a claim?
- How do I know if my claim was filed properly?
- Who are the people involved in a Workers' Compensation claim?
- Should I speak to the insurance company about my injury?
- What benefits are available to me under Maryland law?
- What do the forms I receive in the mail mean?
- How do my prior injuries affect my claim?
- Heart disease presumptions for public safety employees?
- Lung disease and cancer presumption for fire fighters.
- Lymes disease presumption for natural resource employees.
- How do hearing loss claims work?
- Retirement issues for State, County and Municipal employees.
- How will my claim proceed?
- Can I re-open my case if my condition gets worse?
- How does my attorney get paid?
- Can I be re-imbursed for my travel expenses?
- What are the payment rates for temporary total and permanent disability?
- What should I do when I am asked to see the insurance company's doctor?
- What if I am injured because of the negligence of someone other than my employer?