Work-related injuries can leave you grappling with financial distress, pain, and suffering. In Virginia, all employers are required to have workers’ compensation insurance, which is a no-fault insurance system. While the system is meant to be fair and simple, injured workers often struggle with their claims because they are unaware of their rights. Instead of trying to understand everything at once, you may consider hiring a workers’ compensation attorney Virginia for your case. Below are five key facts worth knowing.
- You have to inform your employer/supervisor. You are required to inform your employer of your injury within 30 days. While 30 days may seem like a lot of time, expert attorneys advise injured workers to do so at the earliest.
- Negligence doesn’t matter. The workers’ compensation system is a no-fault one. It doesn’t matter if you were partly at fault for your injuries or were grossly negligent, you can still file a claim and win a settlement.
- You cannot sue your employer. That’s true. The workers’ compensation system offers some sort of protection to employers. Injured workers cannot sue their respective employers for work-related injuries directly. However, if your employer refuses to take your report of injury or you are wrongfully fired, you can take legal action.
- It has to be a work-related injury to claim workers’ compensation benefits. If you were just injured while being at the workplace, it doesn’t always mean that your case will hold. In order to have a valid claim, your injury should be directly related to your work. For example, if you had a history of heart disease and suffered a heart attack during the lunch break, you are unlikely to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.
- Insurance companies are not here to help. Don’t be fooled to believe that the claims adjuster will be empathetic to your condition or injuries. These insurance companies work for a profit and don’t want to pay for claims – period.
Consider hiring a lawyer
There is no better way of protecting your rights after suffering injuries at work. A skilled attorney can evaluate the worth and merit of your workers’ compensation claim and ensure that you have all the support you need for the case. Lawyers can also help you appeal and take further steps if the insurance company denies your claim. You can check online to find top law firms in Virginia specializing in workers’ compensation claims.
