If you work in Maryland, you should have protection in the event that you are injured at work. This has been the case for over 100 years. Although the laws and regulations have been amended over time, the fact remains that laws protecting people at work have been in place for all that time. The heart of the laws has not changed.
If you work for someone else and your employer has been negligent is some way and that negligence has caused your injury, you have the right to go after that person legally so that you can get the compensation that you need and to which you are entitled so that you can meet your financial obligations as well as taking care of your mental and emotional needs at the same time.
How difficult is it to sue my employer?
In some cases, filing a lawsuit against your employer might be the best option. However, in a personal injury lawsuit, you need to prove your employer’s negligence. That can be difficult to do.
You don’t have that same burden of proof if you choose to pursue workers’ compensation benefits instead of a lawsuit. In that sense, pursuing workers’ compensation is much easier.
Even so, there are many times when a person will file a claim and their claim will be denied for a variety of reasons. In that case, you will need to appeal the denial and hopefully, you will start to receive the benefits that are rightfully yours.
Are all workplace injuries covered by workers’ compensation?
No, not all injuries are covered by workers’ compensation. Your injury must have happened in the course of your employment. This includes most accidents in your workplace, as well as accidents outside your workplace if you were there because of your job. For instance, if you were injured in a car while making a delivery for your employer, that is considered to be an injury in the course of your employment.
Another issue is the relationship that you share with your employer. If you work as an independent contractor, you may not be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if you have been injured on the job. If you are in a situation in which you don’t have workers’ compensation insurance, you may decide to get your own insurance so that if something happens, you will be protected.
Advice from a Maryland workers’ compensation attorney
If you are experiencing a similar situation to what is being described here, you may wish to consult a Maryland workers’ compensation attorney, who can give you advice on the steps to follow in the process of taking legal action against a negligent employer. With your attorney’s advice in your back pocket, hopefully, you will be able to obtain the compensation that you need and that you have a right to have while protecting your rights at the same time.