Injured at Work in Virginia? Here’s What To Do Now.
My nurse case manager wants to switch my treating physician but I don’t agree. What should I do?
A: You should never permit your nurse case manager to switch your treating physician without your consent. This comes close to violating the workers’ comp rules. Sometimes, a nurse case manager will try to switch your physician when the physician’s medical opinion of your condition is inconvenient for the insurance adjuster, particularly with your work …
What is the first step that I should take after a work injury?
A: You should immediately notify your supervisor about the accident. Even if you do not think you need medical attention, you should still report your injury. Next, you should file a workers’ compensation claim with the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission. You can get a copy of the form on this website. After you have reported …
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Glossary of Terms
An Insurance Investigator Comes Clean – “One Man’s Opinion”
I just read an article that a workers compensation advocacy group posted that was by a man who spent 30 years as an insurance investigator for a workers compensation insurance company. While it is unclear exactly which state or states he operated in, the insight he reveals is horrifying! The writer talks about how the …
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Top 6 Very Important Reasons Not to Go to Court on Your Own
There are several very important reasons not to go to a Virginia workers compensation hearing on your own. I hear that a lot of injured workers say that they are willing to “roll the dice” with the and represent themselves at a Virginia workers compensation hearing. They are afraid an attorney will cost them too much and …
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Transportation Issues DO NOT Affect Your Ability to Work!
Injured workers who have been released to return to work are, sometimes, under limitations that restrict their driving abilities, or they are on medications that affect their ability to drive. Or, they may have a manual shift car that is uncomfortable for them to operate due to their injury and they want to know if …
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I Got injured in Virginia. Am I allowed to leave the state?
I get this question a lot! Being injured in Virginia and having a Virginia workers’ compensation claim does not mean that you have to spend the rest of your life in Virginia in order to collect your benefits. This is one of those “it depends” type of situations and it really depends on what phase …
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Your Rights After an Injury at Work
Everyone asks me, “What are my rights?” I typically get this question at least once a week. There are some rights of injured workers that are simple, easy things to understand (like the right to hire an attorney). However, I really don’t like this question because while we all have rights, everyone’s situation is different. I …
Workplace Safety and OSHA
I just read an article about some workers injured in Texas when there was an explosion at a fertilizer plant (www.CNN.com). Sadly several workers lost their lives in the blast. My heart goes out to the families affected by this tragedy; you will be in our prayers. I have to point out that while …