The Workers Compensation Process
A common misconception among those that are hurt at work is to compare a work injury to an ordinary personal injury lawsuit. The workers compensation process is full of hurdles, deadlines, and challenges that most are not prepared to handle. This is one good reason obtaining an attorney at the early stages of a work injury case can prove to be a wise decision. Treatment, compensation, reimbursements, and medical diagnostics can all be challenged by the Workers’ Compensation Insurer repeatedly throughout the life of the claim. Continue reading to get an overview of the process but take note that this is not a complete picture of the process.
The Beginning of the Maryland Workers Compensation Process
If one is unfortunate enough to be injured on the job he or she will likely be exposed to the workers compensation system immediately. It may begin with the employer advising the injured to go to the company’s medical provider for evaluation and treatment. Larger medical facilities, like Concentra Medical Center, Occupational Health, and Patient First are often used by employers throughout the state. From this point the injured worker is at the insurance company’s mercy as they are now treating with a facility the insurance company has carefully selected. Note an injured worker is under no legal obligation to treat with the company doctor and may choose their own physician as long as they accept workers compensation payments; However Complications arise when it is company policy to go to the company’s physician. This places the employee in the vulnerable position of choosing medical care over the potential termination from employment.
The injured will have to file a workers compensation claim with the Maryland Workers Compensation Commission. Filing a claim with the insurance company and/or the employer is NOT ENOUGH to be protected by law. There is a very common misconception that if the injured is dealing with an insurance adjuster then the claim has been filed. Failure to file a claim with the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission (MWCC) can lead to a complete bar of the claim!
Challenges and the Maryland Workers Compensation Process
Once a claim is filed with the MWCC the insurance company will have a period of time, referred to as the Consideration Date, to challenge the case on a number of basis. The most common defense they raise at this point is that the accident did not happen, or the accident happened but the injury is of a pre-existing nature. To substantiate their defense they will likely send you to an Independent Medical Evaluation ((IME) see my Definition Page for further explanation).
When the case is challenged the injured employee is forced to develop their own case against the insurance company. Simply going to the hearing and testifying that he or she was injured at work will not be enough evidence to prevail. At the very least there must be certain language in the medical records to indicate that the injury occurred at work and the medical issues the injured employee is having resulted from the work incident. This language is often difficult or impossible to obtain from medical providers that have been selected by the insurance company. The absence of the language can prove to be fatal to the injured workers claim, while being exactly what the insurance company needed to avoid continuing benefits. All hearings are scheduled at one of the seven Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission sites.
While the injured worker is held out of work by his or her treating provider he or she is entitled to temporary total benefits (see Definitions Page). Sometimes these benefits are paid timely and willingly by the insurer/employer and sometimes the injured worker will be stuck waiting for months with no income. While Maryland law does mandate that these benefits are paid to the injured, often it is necessary to go to a hearing. If the claim has already been filed with the MWCC and the consideration date has passed a hearing can be requested immediately. If however the consideration date has not passed a hearing cannot be requested. Hearings are typically set a few months from the date of the filing, however, it is not unheard of to have to wait longer for a hearing date. Many workers live pay check to pay check and this three month waiting period can cause significant turmoil at home. There are certain, but limited circumstances where this waiting period can be expedited.
As previously stated, there are numerous hurdles in any given workers compensation case. The case can be challenged at the very beginning of the claim filing. The entitlement to lost wages can be challenged by the insurer REPEATEDLY AND AT ANYTIME during the life of the claim. Most problematic, in this author’s opinion, is the insurers’ ability to control medical treatment. Many injured just want to get the treatment they need and return to the workforce without delay. What is troubling is that medical treatment can also be challenged repeatedly by the adjuster. Something as ordinary as obtaining an MRI can take over four months. The delay may be because the adjuster wants an IME performed, but occasionally the file is collecting dust on their bottom shelf.
The “End” of the Maryland Workers Compensation Process
Once treatment has been completed and the injured employee has returned to work the next stage is to have the employee compensated for any permanent injury. If the employee is fortunate enough to have recovered completely then compensation for permanent injury is non-existent. To determine, what is referred to as permanency, the employee will be seen by a specialist qualified to evaluate permanent impairments according to the American Medical Association Guide for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment 4th Edition. There are only a certain amount of Physicians capable of performing these evaluations in the state of Maryland and the selection of the physician can prove to be imperative for most cases. There are physicians routinely used by Insurance companies and others routinely used by the injured worker and his/her attorney. Once the insurer has had the opportunity to obtain their permanency evaluation negotiations can begin. Should the parties fail to come to a reasonable resolution a hearing will be requested.
People occasionally show reluctance when it comes to the permanency stage of their case because of the misconception that this is the point where a lawsuit against their employer is being filed. If the employee is at all concerned about having medical treatment in the future, say one or two years from the treating physician’s discharge, having a permanency evaluation and moving to obtain compensation is imperative. Once permanency is concluded the severity of the employees injury will be substantiated and better solidify the chances of obtaining future treatment.
In limited circumstances the injured employee is not physically able to return to work in the same capacity because of the injury he or she sustained. Occasionally an employer will provide an alternative position to the employee and the return to work is a much smoother transition. More often the employer is not able to accommodate and the employee is left without income. Maryland Law provides that the insurer is responsible to provide Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling and benefits to the employee who is left disabled and unable to return to work in the same capacity. A mutually agreeable Vocational Counselor is selected by the insurer and the injured who will then assist the injured in finding employment that is suitable, gainful, and within their physical capacity. While this job search occurs the insurer is obligated to pay lost wage payments to the employee.
It is important to keep in mind that Vocational Rehabilitation can prove to be extremely costly to the insurer. Because of the often exorbitant expense, the insurer is looking for any reason to terminate lost wage payments and Vocational Counseling. The injured must take care to be completely compliant with the vocational counselor to avoid termination of benefits.
Subsequent to permanency and the re-entry into the work force the injured employee is able to reopen their case and obtain further treatment should their condition worsen. Unless the case is settled, future treatment may be an option. A reopening of the case is not automatic and is often met with much more hostility from the insurer.
The Maryland workers compensation process can be confusing and difficult. The good news for injured workers is that representation is on contingency basis meaning workers comp lawyers are only paid if money is recovered!
For a free consultation call workers compensation and personal injury attorney Andrew M. Rodabaugh now at Call Us, Click to email or Fill out the Form below!
Website Disclosure Agreement/ Non Legal Advice
Andrew M. Rodabaugh Maryland workers compensation attorney is pleased to communicate with you concerning legal matters. However if you communicate with us through this website regarding a matter for which our firm Does Not Already Represent You, your communication may Not be treated as privileged or confidential, and shall Not be deemed to create an attorney/client relationship. Furthermore, you should not provide confidential information to anyone at our law firm in an email inquiry or otherwise unless we have First entered into a representation agreement.
By continuing on our website you are deemed to have agreed to these terms and conditions.
Andrew M. Rodabaug, Maryland workers compensation attorney and personal injury attorney does not provide legal advise through this website on any of its pages or posts. The information contained therein is for informational purposes only. For legal advise Workers compensation attorney must be consulted in person.