Workers’ Compensation Lawyers In Maryland
If you need a Maryland workers’ compensation lawyer, look no further than the talented lawyers at Cohen, Snyder, Eisenberg & Katzenberg, P.A. Our attorneys have more than 40 years of experience helping workers across the state get compensation after a workplace injury. If you are hurt in the workplace, we can help you.
We will protect your right to workers’ compensation. Call 443-529-0795, or 410-885-4082 on nights and weekends, for a free consultation.
Injured workers often don’t know where to turn when they become injured on the job. Too often their employers don’t tell them about their rights. We give clients straightforward answers to their questions about workers’ compensation benefits. If you are starting the process, we will file your claim and guide you through the process. If you have already had your claim denied, we will help you with your appeal.
Help For People In Many Lines Of Work
Our attorneys have filed thousands of claims for workers of all types, including public servants such as police officers and firefighters who suffer from diseases by exposure to elements on the job, causing heart or cardiovascular disease, lung disease, cancer and hypertension. We also help the families file death and dependent claims if they lost a loved one because of a workplace accident.
We can address all kinds of workplace injuries, including having a preexisting condition before the accident. Our attorneys will review the circumstances of your injury and will then create a personalized strategy for your workers’ compensation case.
Skilled Workplace Accident Attorneys
We help people with work injuries and illnesses caused by:
- Construction accidents: We handle many claims for workers injured in construction accidents, including those resulting from debris on the construction site, falls, scaffolding collapses and crane malfunctions.
- Industrial accidents: Many factors can cause industrial accidents, such as faulty hardware and equipment and cranes and forklifts that have not received proper maintenance.
- Ladder falls: Injuries from ladder falls or from other high distances are unfortunately common. Whether your fall occurred at a construction site, an industrial site or another type of workplace, our lawyers will help you with your injuries.
- Electrocution and electrical burns: Electricians and other people who work with electrical systems are at risk for serious electrocution injuries and electrical burns.
- Fires and explosions: Workplace explosions and fires can cause serious injuries that may lead to lifelong issues. If you were the victim of a workplace fire or explosion, do not wait to call our firm.
- COVID-19: Illnesses, including COVID-19, contracted in the workplace may be covered by workers’ compensation. Review our article on the medical view of COVID-19 and workers’ compensationto learn more.
We can also help you if you need compensation for workplace injuries caused by a car or truck accident, exposure to hazardous elements, lifting heavy items or repetitive stress. We will explain your rights and help you determine if you need a workers’ compensation lawyer.
Compensation For Public Safety Employees
Public safety employees face daily hazards as a part of their job. Our attorneys often represent police officers and firefighters who become injured while in the line of duty. We have handled “presumption” cases for heart, hypertension, lung and cancer illnesses. We advocate for first responders and other public servants who struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused by workplace incidents.
Our firm works to make the Maryland workers’ compensation system run as effectively and efficiently as possible. We help plan and run an annual statewide conference to improve conditions for injured employees.
Frequently Asked Questions About Workers’ Comp Claims
Being injured on the job can be an extremely intimidating experience. It can be difficult to get honest answers about where to go for help and what benefits are available. At Cohen, Snyder, Eisenberg & Katzenberg, P.A., we work hard to ensure that injury victims have access to the information they need following a serious workplace accident.
To provide you with the essential information you need as you begin the workers’ compensation claims process, we have compiled some of the most common workers’ compensation questions that we get from our clients:
- Do I need a workers’ comp lawyer? My employer says no. Is that true?
- What are my rights after an injury at work?
- Do I have a personal injury claim against my employer? Can I sue my company if I have been injured at work?
- What if my claim has been denied? What should I do now?
- Can I be fired for filing a workers’ compensation claim?
- My spouse was killed in a workplace accident. Do I have grounds for a wrongful death claim and how can I file that claim?
- Can I receive workers’ compensation benefits while on a Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave of absence?
- What is a “stipulation with request for award?”
- Are there statutory limits for workers’ compensation?
- Can I file a claim for workers’ compensation if I have two jobs and was injured while working at one of them?
- I own my own business and have no employees. Am I covered by workers’ compensation?
- Are there fees for changing lawyers in a workers’ compensation case?
- Will workers’ compensation cover my medical bills?
- Can I choose my own doctor?
- Are there restrictions on medical costs?
- How much does a workers’ comp lawyer cost?
- What is the deadline for filing a workers’ comp claim?
Q: Do I need a workers’ comp lawyer? My employer says no. Is that true?
A: When a worker has been injured on the job, it’s difficult to know what to do. Work injuries are painful, and the worker may be getting conflicting advice from the employer, the insurance company, co-workers, and even friends and relatives.
We often hear the question: “Can I handle a workers’ compensation claim on my own?” It is true that you are not required to have an attorney, but most people find it very beneficial. Obtaining counsel acts to level the playing the field between the employer/insurer along with their attorneys versus an individual injured worker. Most employees don’t know their rights under Maryland workers’ compensation law, which puts your employer and the insurance company at a significant advantage. Or, if your doctor recommends treatment and the insurer refuses, we can pursue your treatment by obtaining an order authorizing it before the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission. You do not have to go to a workers’ compensation hearing or face an insurance carrier or an employer alone.
If you don’t know all your rights, you could leave thousands of dollars in lost benefits on the table. Choosing the right attorney is important. Our attorneys know your rights and will work to ensure that you receive the full measure of benefits available for your case.
Q: What are my rights after an injury at work?
A: The complete answer to that question will depend largely on the facts of your case. The short answer, however, is that you are entitled to medical care related to the injury and a tax-free benefit to compensate for your lost wages or a permanent injury.
Here are a few commonly overlooked workers’ compensation benefits.
- Workers’ compensation benefits can include not only the payment of temporary total or temporary partial disability benefits to compensate the injured worker while missing time from work, but may also include an award for permanent partial disability after the worker has completed medical treatment.
- Additional benefits may include vocational services should the employee be unable to return to normal duties at work. These vocational services can provide, among other things, assistance with finding a job and/or training to learn a new occupation, and are provided at the expense of the employer and their insurance company, should an employer be unable to accommodate an injured worker with permanent restrictions.
- Workers’ compensation wage benefits are two-thirds of average weekly wages up to a capped maximum. The worker needs to be sure that the average weekly wage is properly calculated so that benefits are accurate.
- An injured worker is entitled to medical treatment, medications, and medical mileage payments for visits to a health care provider.
- Whether your work injury was caused by a single industrial accident, by the job requirement to lift something heavy or by repetitive stress, you have a right to medical treatment and wage loss payments.
Know your rights. In many cases – especially when the employer denies you were injured at work, when the insurer denies coverage or when your average weekly wage is in dispute – a lawyer can assure that your rights are protected.
Q: Do I have a personal injury claim against my employer? Can I sue my company if I have been injured at work?
A: No, in most cases. Workers’ compensation benefits are the only form of relief available from an employer. However, if someone other than your employer, including a co-worker, was partially or completely responsible for the accident that caused your injuries, you may have grounds for a separate personal injury claim. We will review your case and explain your legal options.
Q: What if my claim has been denied? What should I do now?
A: Fight back. Too many injured workers receive a notification of denial and wrongly assume that they have no further say in the matter. Maryland law allows you to dispute the decision. Our attorneys have been successful in representing many injured workers in hearings and appeals following the denial of a claim.
Q: Can I be fired for filing a workers’ compensation claim?
A: Maryland law prohibits employers from retaliating against employees and terminating a worker’s employment due to a workers’ compensation claim. However, that does not mean that your employer may not fire you and cite another reason or no reason at all, due to Maryland being an at-will employment state. If you suspect your workers’ comp claim was the true basis for your termination, it is important to seek legal counsel immediately to determine your rights and fight back.
Q: My spouse was killed in a workplace accident. Do I have grounds for a death claim and how can I file that claim?
A: Yes. Under the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Act, the families of workers who are killed on the job or die from an occupational disease are entitled to seek certain death benefits, including a specified amount for funeral expenses. We will review your case and explain the benefits that may be available for you and your children.
Q: Can I receive workers’ compensation benefits while on a Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave of absence?
A: Yes. FMLA is a separate federal law that, if an employee qualifies for it, protects them from losing employment while out of work for a specified time period. However, workers’ compensation benefits extend even if FMLA is exhausted or an injured worker does not qualify for the benefit.
Q: What is a “stipulation with request for award?”
A: This means both sides agree on a particular finding by the Workers’ Compensation Commission without a need for a hearing.
Q: Are there statutory limits for workers’ compensation?
A: Yes, there are limits to various disability benefits. The Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission website provides information on these limits, but they are hard for many people to understand. We urge you to call us if this issue may be applicable in your case.
Q: Can I file a claim for workers’ compensation if I have two jobs and was injured while working at one of them?
A: Yes, but if you were injured and receive benefits through one job, you generally cannot be working at another job at the same time. Individual factors differ, so please consult with an attorney for clarification on this matter.
Q: I own my own business and have no employees. Am I covered by workers’ compensation?
A: If you insured yourself through a workers’ compensation insurer, yes. As the owner of a business, you may elect to cover yourself through workers’ compensation insurance just as an employer would do for you. Contact an insurer for more information.
Q: Are there fees for changing lawyers in a workers’ compensation case?
A: If you decide to change lawyers in a workers’ compensation case, the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission will apportion an allowable fee between the lawyers. There are no additional fees for changing attorneys.
Q: Will workers’ compensation cover my medical bills?
A: Yes. In Maryland, workers’ compensation does cover the cost of all necessary medical treatment resulting from your work injury.
This includes:
- Doctor bills
- Hospital bills
- Physical therapy
- Prescription medications
- Crutches, artificial limbs and other apparatus
Q: Can I choose my own doctor?
A: Yes. Unlike other states, workers’ compensation laws in Maryland allow injured workers to select their own care providers. This means your employer, or your employer’s insurance company, cannot require you to see a specific doctor or give you a list of preapproved doctors to choose from.
Tip: Make sure to tell your doctor that you were injured at work. You will want to make sure your medical bills are sent to your employer’s insurance company, not to you or your private medical insurance provider. You will also want to make sure your work injuries are well-documented in case a dispute arises later.
Q: Are there restrictions on medical costs?
A: There is no cap limiting the amount of costs that are covered under workers’ compensation. However, there is a limit on how much doctors and other health care providers can charge.
The Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission determines the rates that doctors can charge for their services. Doctors are only paid by workers’ compensation insurance carriers up to this limit. If a doctor charges more than the rate determined by the commission, he/she cannot bill the injured worker for the difference. That considered, not all physicians accept Workers’ Compensation Claims due to the regulated fee guide. As a result, since there is a limited number of physicians who accept such claims, it is beneficial to speak to an attorney familiar with the physicians in Maryland.
Q: How much does a workers’ comp lawyer cost?
A: In workers’ compensation cases, attorneys’ fees are set and regulated closely by the Workers’ Compensation Commission. All fees come out of any award that the injured employee may receive, and the injured worker does not have to pay anything up front to obtain the services of a lawyer.
Q: What is the deadline for filing a workers’ comp claim?
A: Your workers’ compensation claim must be filed within two years of your injury. Your attorney can help you gather all the data necessary for an effective claim.
Talk To An Experienced Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Without Any Upfront Fees
You can set up your free consultation at any of our office locations in Baltimore, Bel Air, Frederick, Essex, Towson and Glen Burnie. We are available during the office hours at 443-529-0795, or nights and weekends at 410-885-4082. Contact us now so that we can help with your workers’ compensation case.
