What Should You Do If You Get Injured at Work?

Workplace accidents are incredibly common. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 2.8 million non-fatal injury accidents were reported by private industry employers in a recent year. Unfortunately, workers often don’t know what to do if they’ve been hurt on the job. Do I report my injury? Who do I go to for treatment? What are my rights as an employee?

Because the answers to these questions are crucial and governed by Maryland law, the Waldorf, Maryland workers’ compensation attorneys at Trollinger Law LLC have put together the following list of common questions related to on-the-job injuries. Keep reading and call us for a free consultation if you’ve been hurt.

If I’m hurt or get sick at work, can I see my own doctor?

In Maryland, workers’ compensation laws allow you to see the doctor of your choice. The only condition is that your doctor must agree to the workers’ compensation fee schedule outlined under state law. If your doctor does not agree to the fee schedule, you’ll have to find another doctor or pay them out-of-pocket. However, your employer also has the right to request you undergo an examination from a doctor of their choosing to see if you’re receiving appropriate treatment for your injuries.

Will I get paid while I recover from a work injury?

Workers’ compensation benefits work under a no-fault system. If your claim is approved, all of your medical treatment for your injuries should be covered by your employer’s workers’ compensation provider. In addition, workers’ compensation benefits cover your lost wages from your injury at a rate of two-thirds of what is called your average weekly wage (AWW) which is your average pay for 14 weeks prior to your work injury. These payments continue until you return to work in most cases.

How do I file a workers’ compensation claim in Maryland?

Here are the basic steps of the worker’s compensation claims process in Maryland:

• Make a report to your employer, either on the date of your injury or once you discover you’ve suffered an occupational disease.
• Your employer makes an initial report of your injury to the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC). If your employer does not report your injury, you can report it online yourself through the WCC website.
• You’ll receive a Notice of Claim Filed from the WCC.
• Within 21 days of your injury being reported, you’ll either start receiving benefits or a notice explaining why your claim was denied.
• If your claim is contested, you will automatically be set in for a hearing with the Workers’ Compensation Commission.
• If you have an accepted claim or the WCC finds that you have an accidental injury or occupational disease, your medical benefits will continue until you either fully recover, reach maximum medical improvement (MMI) or an examiner finds you at MMI for your injuries. Benefits for missed wages last for different lengths of time depending on the severity of your injuries.
• If your injuries have resulted in a permanent disability, through the aid of an attorney, you can petition to receive permanent workers’ compensation payments.

Can an employer fire you for being injured?

While it is illegal for an employer to fire injured employees for making a workers’ compensation claim, they can fire them for other reasons. However, your workers’ compensation benefits will continue even after you’ve been terminated, at least until you reach maximum medical improvement.

What should I do if I can’t work due to an injury?

While workers’ compensation payments cover some of your missed wages, these benefits rarely last forever. They also don’t entirely make up for the income you’ve lost. A workers’ compensation attorney can help you apply for permanent disability benefits if your injuries have caused you to have some residual symptoms or problems due to the work injury. You may be able to claim additional compensation through a personal injury claim or lawsuit depending on the facts of your case.

Hurt on the Job? Contact a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today

The Maryland workers’ compensation lawyers at Trollinger Law LLC are committed to helping injured workers get the benefits they are owed after an on-the-job injury. Get a free case review by calling our office or fill out our contact form today.

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Who Can Be Held Liable for a Truck Accident in Waldorf?

If you were injured in a Waldorf truck accident, you’re likely in pain and wondering how you’ll pay for the treatment you need. One of the first steps in filing a claim for compensation after a truck accident is to determine who was responsible for the crash.

There are numerous parties involved in the operation of a commercial truck. Any of these parties can affect how a truck is maintained, loaded, or driven and could therefore bear responsibility after a Waldorf truck accident. Potentially liable parties include:

• Truck drivers: Drivers can be liable for truck accidents if they commit driving errors or drive while fatigued, impaired, or distracted.
• Trucking companies: If trucking companies hire unqualified drivers, fail to train their drivers properly, or fail to maintain their trucks, they can be held responsible for the resulting crashes.
• Cargo loaders: Teams that load cargo onto trucks can be responsible for accidents caused by cargo that is overloaded or improperly secured.
• Truck part manufacturers: If the manufacturer of a truck component is negligent, they can be held liable for crashes caused by faulty parts.
• Truck mechanics: Mechanics can bear responsibility for truck accidents caused by defective parts that were improperly installed, inspected, or repaired.

How to Prove Liability in Truck Accident Cases

To recover compensation in a truck accident claim, you must be able to demonstrate that another party should be held financially liable for your losses. A knowledgeable truck accident attorney can help you gather valuable evidence to support your claim, such as:

• Medical records
• Electronic data recorders (ELDs) and dashcams
• Truck driver logbooks and employment history
• Truck driver cell phone and GPS records
• Truck inspection, maintenance, and repair records
• Trucking company hiring, screening, and training records
• Cargo loading documents and bills of lading
• Witness testimony
• Photographs of the accident scene and visible injuries
• Testimony from experts, such as accident reconstruction specialists

How Much Should I Expect From My Truck Accident Settlement?

The amount of money you could recover from a truck accident claim can vary depending on the cause of the accident, the severity of any injuries, and the limits on all available insurance policies. With a successful claim, you could be entitled to compensation for:

• Past, present, and projected future medical bills associated with the accident
• Incidental costs, such as transportation expenses or assistive medical equipment
• Lost income, if you are forced to miss time at work to recover from your injuries
• Lost earning potential, if you are disabled and can no longer work
• The subjective costs of pain, suffering, and lost quality of life due to the truck accident

Contact a Waldorf Truck Accident Lawyer Today

If you need a legal team that’s willing to dig deep and fight hard, contact Trollinger Law LLC. Our skilled truck accident lawyers serve injured people throughout Southern Maryland and Washington, D.C. To learn more about how we can help, call or contact us now.

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Road Safety Tips for the Most Experienced Drivers

If you have decades of experience behind the wheel, you’re probably confident about your ability to drive safely. But don’t get too complacent. Human error is a leading cause of car crashes worldwide. Even the best drivers can be involved in serious collisions.

Are you a seasoned driver? Find out whether you’re taking all the best precautions by reviewing this list compiled by the Maryland car accident lawyers at Trollinger Law LLC.

Minimize Distractions

Distracted driving is negligent driving. It’s also incredibly dangerous. It might be tempting to multitask as an experienced driver, but you must resist temptation.

Avoid anything that can take your concentration off the road, such as talking on the phone, texting while driving, adjusting the music, looking at roadside billboards, or reaching for items in the back seat. Eating, applying makeup, and talking to passengers are other distractions that can lead to car crashes.

Always Wear a Seat Belt

Seat belts save lives. If you’re not wearing your seat belt, you’re more likely to suffer severe or fatal injuries if you’re involved in a collision. If you have young children in the car, make sure their seat belts fit correctly before leaving home. Set a good example — if you wear your seat belt, your kids are more likely to do it when they drive.

Don’t Drive While Impaired

The hazards of driving while intoxicated are well-known. Drunk or drugged driving impedes reflexes, impairs judgment, and alters driving behavior in dangerous ways.

Keep in mind that illegal drugs like cocaine and heroin are not the only ones that can have debilitating effects. Prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications may have side effects that can affect your ability to drive safely.

If you’ve been drinking, don’t rely on your years of driving ability to get you home safely. Call a taxi, rideshare service, or use a designated driver before taking a night on the town.

Avoid Drowsy Driving

Research shows that driving while fatigued is nearly as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. When you’re severely fatigued, the reflexes, awareness, and other mental faculties crucial to handling a vehicle safely are all compromised. Get plenty of rest before driving, especially if you know you have a particularly long or challenging drive ahead of you.

Fight the Need for Speed

Basic physics tells us that the faster an object moves, the harder it hits when it collides with another object. Applying this principle to car accidents tells us that there’s a more forceful impact when vehicles collide at high speeds, which means a much higher chance of severe injuries. By following posted signs and watching your speed as you drive, you’ll lower your odds of sustaining a catastrophic injury if you’re in a crash.

Contact a Maryland Car Accident Lawyer If You’ve Been Hurt

Even if you follow the safety rules that keep us all safe, you can still be hurt if someone else chooses not to follow them. If you were injured in a crash in Maryland, contact the experienced Waldorf injury attorneys at Trollinger Law LLC for help. We have extensive experience helping others just like you to get the compensation they deserve. All initial consultations are free. Call or contact us today to get started.

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