Can I Re-open My Case If My Condition Worsens in the District of Columbia?
The D.C. Workers' Compensation law law permits you to re-open your claim for more money within a defined period of time since you were last paid compensation benefits exlusive of medical treatment, mileage reimbursement or prescription expenses. It generally only means payments for permanent disability or temporary total disability. Therefore, if your condition worsens, even just a little bit, it is extremely important to claim and receive an increased permanent disability award and/or temporary total benefits. The deadlines are:
- For scheduled losses - 1 year
- For Wage loss cases - 3 years
On the other hand, medical benefits are for life (assuming you have not settled your right to claim future benefits). There are no yearly limitation, but the difficulty of proving the relationship of the treatment to the original injury increases with time - absent an increased award of permanent disability.
Frequently Asked District of Columbia Workers' Compensation Questions
- Is my injury covered under D.C. Worker's Compensation law?
- How long do I have to file a claim?
- Who are the people involved in a D.C. Workers' Compensation claim?
- Should I speak to the insurance company about my injury?
- What benefits are available to me under D.C.law?
- How do my prior injuries affect my claim?
- 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 and Prescriptions?
- 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?