Charlottesville Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

Workers’ Compensation for Work-Related Injuries & Illnesses

Were you injured on the job? Did you suffer a work-related illness or medical condition? You could be entitled to workers’ compensation, and Reinhardt | Harper | Davis can help.

For over 40 years, our firm has fought on behalf of injured workers throughout Virginia, providing the personal service and aggressive advocacy they deserved. We have a long, proven track record of success in even the most complex of workers’ compensation matters and, with more than a century of combined legal experience, our attorneys have what it takes to fight for you.

Most employees in Virginia are covered by workers’ compensation. If you suffered a job-related accident, injury, or illness, you may be entitled to medical benefits, temporary or permanent wage replacement, and other benefits. Reach out to our Charlottesville workers’ compensation attorneys today to learn more during a free, no-obligation consultation.

Call (804) 294-2966 or contact us online to get started. Hablamos español.

What Accidents & Injuries Are Covered by Workers’ Compensation?

The Virginia workers’ compensation system is meant to assist employees who suffer work-related injuries and medical conditions. As such, nearly all injuries and illnesses are covered under workers’ compensation, as long as the employee can prove that the injury or illness was sustained in the course of his or her work, at the workplace, or while carrying out duties or activities related to his or her employment.

Workers’ compensation covers a wide variety of employment-related injuries, illnesses, and medical conditions, including but not limited to:

• Fall-related injuries, such as broken bones
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
• Head, neck, back, and shoulder injuries
• Overexertion, overuse, and repetitive strain injuries
• Sprains and strains
• Burns
• Electrocution
• Amputation/loss of limb
• Hearing damage or loss
• Eye and face injuries
• Medical conditions caused by toxic exposure
• Mesothelioma and other occupational asbestos exposure-related illnesses
• Certain mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Additionally, workers’ compensation covers most workplace accidents. This includes incidents that occur at an actual job site, as well as those that occur outside of the work environment while employees are on the clock and/or performing employment-related duties.

Some examples include:

• Commercial vehicle and transportation accidents
• Slips, trips, and falls
• Falls from heights to lower levels
• Being struck by falling objects
• Being caught between or beneath objects or materials
• Explosions and fires
• Accidents resulting from defective tools, materials, and equipment
• Heavy machinery and equipment accidents
• Overuse and repetitive motions
• Excessive noise
• Improper employee protections, such as fall protection
• Safety standard violations

If you suffered any type of work-related accident, injury, or illness, reach out to our Charlottesville workers’ compensation attorneys today to learn how we can help you seek workers’ compensation benefits. In some cases, you may also be eligible to file a third-party personal injury lawsuit against someone other than your employer, such as the manufacturer of a defective tool.

How Long Do You Have to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim?

When it comes to reporting your injury and filing your workers’ compensation claim, several deadlines apply. After a workplace accident or injury, you have 30 days to notify your employer in writing. The same deadline applies if you receive a diagnosis for a work-related medical condition.

Once you have reported your work-related injury or illness to your employer, your employer has 10 days to file a “First Report of Injury” with the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission. This officially begins your workers’ compensation claim. However, you may also file your own workers’ compensation claim with the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission (if you wish to do so). In Virginia, you have two years from the date of a work-related injury or diagnosis to file a workers’ compensation claim.

Some exceptions may apply, but they are generally quite rare. We recommend that you act quickly after a workplace accident or job-related injury so that you do not lose your right to file for workers’ compensation and receive monetary benefits.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Virginia

Virginia workers’ compensation laws require all employers with three or more employees to carry workers’ compensation insurance (with some exceptions). This insurance provides certain benefits when an employee is injured on the job or is diagnosed with a work-related medical condition.

Many people who qualify for workers’ compensation are eligible for the following benefits:

• Medical benefits, including all costs associated with reasonable and necessary medical care
• Temporary total disability (TTD) and/or temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits
• Permanent partial disability (PPD) and/or permanent total disability (PTD) benefits

Workers’ compensation also provides wage replacement death benefits, as well as reimbursement for reasonable funeral and/or burial costs to surviving spouses and children when a covered employee dies as a result of a fatal workplace accident or work-related injury, illness, or medical condition.

Understanding your benefits can be challenging, but our team can help. At Reinhardt | Harper | Davis, we offer highly personalized and attentive legal services tailored to the unique needs of each individual client. Our Charlottesville workers’ compensation attorneys can sit down with you during a free initial consultation and review the details of your case. We can help you determine which types of benefits you may be entitled to receive, as well as how long you can potentially expect those benefits to last. We recommend that you reach out to our firm right away to schedule a complimentary consultation and case evaluation with a friendly and professional member of our team.

Contact us 24/7 using our online form or by calling (804) 294-2966.