In Maryland, just like any other state in the US, there is a system to safeguard employees who experience harm while on duty. It’s called workers’ compensation, and it offers certain benefits to workers suffering from an accidental injury or occupational disease due to their job duties as well as death benefits. The process of filing a workers’ compensation claim can be intricate but don’t fret. The Pinder Plotkin legal team, renowned for their expertise in dealing with such claims, advises seeking professional help when navigating this terrain.
Not having workers’ compensation insurance where it’s mandated can be a criminal offense, and the penalties can be severe. Fines can reach thousands of dollars per day for non-compliance and any loss of revenue due to business closure until coverage is in place. In the event of an accident, the penalties can be even higher, as the employer is responsible for all medical bills, lost wages, and potential litigation.
However, the laws are not only there to protect the employee; they can often eliminate the liability of co-workers and shield an employer from a lawsuit if an employee collects workers’ compensation benefits. Most states even maintain a fund to protect an injured worker in case the employer does not have coverage.
Some companies might be exempt from obtaining workers’ compensation insurance depending on state requirements. For example, Texas does not require most private employers to carry workers’ compensation, except for a few industries where it is needed.
Ideally, your employer will accept responsibility for your work-related injury or illness and begin paying you the workers’ compensation benefits you are entitled to under the law. But when your employer denies your claim or does not pay you the benefits you believe you are legally entitled to, a Trollinger Law LLC – an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can help you to pursue a claim to seek the benefits you deserve. More About Trollinger Law
What does workers’ compensation insurance cover?
Workers’ comp coverage helps employees pay for qualified workplace injury or illness expenses. Depending on state laws, these may include:
Medical services: Covers medical-related expenses needed to treat an injured or sick employee.
Rehabilitation services: cover the care needed to get an employee back to work, such as physical or occupational therapy.
Lost income: If an employee takes time off to recover, workers’ compensation will cover a portion of missed wages.
Vocational training: This covers training that will help a worker develop the skills and attain the education needed to return to work within restrictions set by a physician related to the employee’s injury or illness.
Death benefits: A specified amount is paid to the employee’s survivors in the event of a work-related death.
In Maryland, when you are injured on the job, the law generally entitles you to receive workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits are available to you from your employer or its workers’ compensation insurer. You can receive workers’ compensation benefits regardless of why you were injured on the job or who was at fault. What’s relevant is that you were injured in the course and scope of your employment.