Workers’ Compensation

Get the support you need to get back on your feet.

At Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, we know that being injured at work can lead to many issues, uncertainty, and stress regarding treatment, compensation, insurance companies, your employer, and the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission.

Workers’ Compensation cases are unique from other personal injury cases, and our law firm appreciates and recognizes those differences. Therefore, we offer a free consultation on all personal injury cases. Our fees are set by Maryland law, so there is never a fee unless awarded by the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission when we recover for you!

What is Workers’ Compensation?

Maryland Workers’ Compensation law allows employees who suffer an accidental injury while working to recover expenses for lost wages and medical bills related to their injury. Unlike traditional personal injury cases, Workers’ Compensation does not rely on anyone being at fault! It allows for recovery for:

1. An accidental injury that arises out of and in the course of employment;
2. An injury caused by a willful or negligent act of a third person directed against a covered employee in the course of the employee’s employment; or
3. A disease or infection that naturally results from an accidental injury that arises out of and in the course of employment, including occupational disease and frostbite/sunstroke caused by a weather condition.

To recover, your employer or some third party does not have to be found at fault. Instead, the injury must “arise out of and in the course of employment,” which means the injury occurred when you were doing the job and because of conditions required by your employer for doing the job. This may include anything from slipping and falling while at work or while out making a delivery to diseases that develop due to exposure at a job site. Compensation may not be denied to an employee because of the degree of risk of the employment!

Compensation – How Much Will I Collect?

The amount a worker recovers depends on the severity of their injury. Claims typically include medical expenses and a portion of lost wages. In more severe cases, claims may include additional compensation or funeral expenses. An experienced Workers’ Compensation attorney can help evaluate your claim and ensure you get the compensation you deserve! Furthermore, attorneys cannot charge a fee until the Commission awards it.

How to File a Claim?

The timeline to file a claim is critical, so you must contact an attorney immediately if you are injured at work! Below are the deadlines for a typical Workers’ Compensation case; however, it is essential to note that these deadlines change for diseases developed while working or family members filing a claim for injuries resulting in the employee’s death.

The injured employee must inform their employer within ten days of their injury. This can be done either orally or in writing. If it is in writing, the employee must provide their name and address; the time, place, nature, and cause of the injury; and their signature.

If available, the injured employee must file Employee Claim Form C-1 and a physician’s report within 60 days.

Hearings

After filing a claim, the employer or employee may request a hearing before the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission. This hearing may involve witnesses, medical examinations, vocational experts, and other evidence. An experienced attorney helps present this case to the Commission and evaluates the case presented by the employer.

The Commission will make or deny a claim within 30 days of mailing the notice of filing a claim or hearing. If either the employer or employee disagrees with the Commission’s decision, they may file an appeal to the Circuit Court within 30 days of the Commission’s order.

Contact Us Today

If you or a loved one suffered an injury on the job, contact Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz today. Our experienced attorneys offer free consultations for Workers’ Compensation cases and will help make sure you get the compensation you deserve!