FILE A CLAIM WITH VIRGINIA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COMMISSION?
Posted by Michele Lewane | Workers' Compensation Benefits
Q: Should I File a Claim with the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission If My Employer’s Insurance Is Paying for My Doctor? A: Listen up folks! There is a huge difference between filing a workers’ compensation claim with the Virginia Workers Compensation Commission and your employer’s insurance company. Many injured workers do not realize this and …
Continue reading "FILE A CLAIM WITH VIRGINIA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COMMISSION?"
Permanent Partial Disability Benefits Are Not a Workers’ Compensation Settlement
Posted by Michele Lewane | Workers' Compensation Benefits
Many injured workers call me and ask about settlements. However, many of them are confusing the term settlement with their permanent partial disability benefits. How Permanent Partial Disability Is Determined Permanent partial disability benefits are determined by a formula (established by the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission) based on an injured worker’s average weekly wage, the …
Continue reading "Permanent Partial Disability Benefits Are Not a Workers’ Compensation Settlement"
Virginia Workers Compensation Claims – Fiction vs. Fact
Posted by Michele Lewane | First Steps, Workers' Compensation Benefits
I wanted to do just a quick little Virginia workers compensation claims fiction vs. fact for folks as a quick reminder about some of the misconceptions and flawed information that injured workers can sometimes get about dealing with the workers compensation claim process. I’m debunking some of the fiction surrounding Virginia work injury claims! Myths …
Continue reading "Virginia Workers Compensation Claims – Fiction vs. Fact"
I’ve Exhausted my 500 Weeks of Lost Wages– Now What?
Posted by Michele Lewane | Workers' Compensation Benefits
If you have been reading through my website you probably already know that Temporary Total Disability benefits (TTD) in Virginia will only last for a period of 500 weeks (or about 9.5 years). In most cases, this 500 week window is sufficient time for injured workers to recover from their injuries and return to some …
Continue reading "I’ve Exhausted my 500 Weeks of Lost Wages– Now What?"
Intervening Injuries Can Be Costly!
Posted by Michele Lewane | Claim Denied - Now What?, Workers' Compensation Benefits
What Is an “Intervening Injury”? For Virginia Workers Compensation purposes, an intervening injury could be anything that happened after your work injury. For example, if you have a back injury at work that workers’ compensation is covering and then you have a car accident, which event is causing the back pain – the work …
How to Get Your Mileage Reimbursement in Virginia
Posted by Injured Workers Law Firm | Workers' Compensation Benefits
How to Get Your Workers Comp Travel Expenses Virginia law allows for injured workers to receive a mileage reimbursement for their travel expenses for trips to the medical appointments, meetings with vocational rehab counselors, and job interviews. If you’re not sure how to get your mileage reimbursement, I’ll explain the process for you here. Keep …
Continue reading "How to Get Your Mileage Reimbursement in Virginia"
Does FMLA Affect My Workers’ Comp Benefits?
Posted by Michele Lewane | Workers' Compensation Benefits
FMLA and Worker Comp First of all, I am a Virginia workers’ compensation attorney, so any information given here is strictly related to Virginia workers’ comp claims. If you have questions regarding FMLA that do not involve a work injury situation, you need to contact a labor law attorney. If you would like to speak …
Continue reading "Does FMLA Affect My Workers’ Comp Benefits?"
Virginia Workers Compensation Payments: How Much and How to Calculate
Posted by Injured Workers Law Firm | First Steps, Workers' Compensation Benefits
Main takeaways: Benefits are limited Benefits are calculated based on a math formula Benefits are paid based on a percentage Virginia sets a minimum and maximum compensation rate How Long Will You Be Able to Get Your Lost Wages Checks? The answer, in general, is up to 500 weeks, and that’s about 9 and 1/2 …
Continue reading "Virginia Workers Compensation Payments: How Much and How to Calculate"
Are Occupational Diseases Covered By Workers’ Compensation?
Posted by Injured Workers Law Firm | Workers' Compensation Benefits
Though the most common types of injuries covered by workers’ compensation rules in Virginia are accidents, occupational diseases are also covered. For workers’ compensation purposes, an occupational disease is considered a disease that arises out of and in the course of employment (just like accident requirements) and it’s not an ordinary disease of life, which …
Continue reading "Are Occupational Diseases Covered By Workers’ Compensation?"
Virginia Workers’ Compensation is a Slow Process
Posted by Michele Lewane | Claim Accepted - Now What?, Claim Denied - Now What?, Settlement, Workers' Compensation Benefits
Virginia workers’ compensation can be a painfully slow process. I’m not trying to frighten anyone but, as an injured worker, you need to know what to expect when dealing with this process. Also, there are several processes within the process – a claim has to be formally approved or denied before a hearing can be …
Continue reading "Virginia Workers’ Compensation is a Slow Process"