What Happens If You Can’t Return to Work After an Injury in the D.C. Metro Area?

By Julie H. Heiden
Attorney

Workplace incidents may result in situations that make it so you can’t return to work after an injury. Broken bones, burns, and head or brain injuries are common. Mounting expenses while you are unable to work may create financial strain. After serious injuries, you might not be able to return to work at all. In other cases, you might need to work in a different occupation because you are unable handle the requirements of your previous position.

Workers’ compensation claims help, but are they enough? Are there other forms of assistance? Let’s take a closer look.

What Happens If You Can’t Return to Work After an Injury?

What happens if you can't return to work after an injury?

If an on-the-job injury keeps you from returning to work, you may qualify to receive temporary or permanent disability benefits. These may be partial or total, depending on whether you will be able to work in any capacity. Depending on how you sustained the injury, there may also be other ways to access compensation.

Every accident is different, and the unique circumstances surrounding your injury accident determine whether you can seek compensation. Our workers’ compensation lawyers serve the Washington, D.C. metro area, Maryland, and Virginia. We can assess your situation and help even if you live in one state and work in another.

Workers’ Compensation Claims

This employer-based policy should apply if you sustained your injuries while at work. These policies typically cover medical expenses and a portion of lost wages, along with other types of accident-related costs. However, insurance companies often dispute valid claims. They may also attempt to minimize payouts, hoping that you are unaware of your rights.

Our attorneys can help with worker’s comp claims in several ways:

  • Submitting completed paperwork before applicable deadlines
  • Dispute claim denial
  • Ensuring that your payout is enough to cover your expenses

Worker’s comp claims are often complex, but you don’t necessarily have to accept an insurance company’s initial determination or offer. Contact Koonz, McKenney, Johnson & DePaolis, LLP, to see how we can help.

Personal Injury Claims

A man on the phone asks, "can i lose my job due to an injury?"

To seek compensation through a personal injury claim, someone else’s negligence must be the direct cause of your injuries. Negligence refers to someone’s duty to act like a reasonable person would in the same situation to safeguard others from harm.

While accepting worker’s comp benefits often prevents you from filing a personal injury claim against your employer, specific case-specific circumstances may exempt you from this restriction. In addition, if a third party’s negligence led to your accident, you can typically seek compensation by filing a personal injury claim against that party.

If your situation qualifies for both worker’s compensation and personal injury claims, it’s a good idea to hire one lawyer to handle both matters.

Why Choose Koonz, McKenney, Johnson & DePaolis, LLP, if You Can’t Return to Work After an Injury?

If you can’t return to work after an injury, you may need assistance with various legal matters. If you need help with a workers’ compensation or personal injury claim, or if you want more information, contact Koonz, McKenney, Johnson, & DePaolis, LLP, to request your free consultation. You won’t pay fees unless we obtain compensation for you.

About the Author
Ms. Heiden is a Virginia injury attorney who represents injured individuals in personal injury, product liability, social security, and workers compensation cases. In 2009, she was recognized by Cambridge Who’s Who for demonstrating dedication, leadership, and excellence in legal services.