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Do I need a witness for my Virginia workers’ compensation claim?   When you’re going through the steps of a workers’compensation claim in Virginia, you might wonder about witnesses. Are they required? Do they help? Do they hurt? Should you try to find one? Will your employer have one?   General Information About Witnesses A […]

8 Practical Tips for Dealing with a Workers’ Compensation Claim   Dealing with a workers’ comp claim can be tough, but these 8 tips will make it easier. Click on the links in the answers to get more details about each tip.   1. Tell your boss, tell your doctor, then tell HammondTownsend. Following these […]

Virginia Workers’ Compensation Cost of Living Adjustments   If you’re receiving workers’ compensation in the state of Virginia and you have certain benefits, you’re entitled to a Cost of Living Adjustment (sometimes abbreviated COLA) once a year. The adjustment is not automatic and you must ask for it, so find out if you qualify.   […]

When you’ve filed a workers’ comp claim, it’s common to not have experience with some of the specialized vocabulary and legal terms used. While your HammondTownsend attorney and paralegal can help you, you can also look them up using this guide. View the blog post People Involved in a Workers’ Comp Case for more information […]

NEWS AND VIEWS ON APPELLATE MATTERS              A few years ago, HammondTownsend represented a firefighter who had assisted other first responders in rescuing a man who had suffered abroken leg due to a fall while showering. The case led to a published decision by the Court of Appeals, namely, Van […]

Does Workers’ Comp Pay for Surgery? Despite everyone’s best efforts for safety, you might get hurt at work. It could be minor, like stubbing your toe, or it could be major, like a fall.   If you’re hurt at work, you may need to get surgery. You could have broken a bone, torn a tendon, […]

Does Workers’ Comp Cover Lost Wages?   If you’re hurt at work, you may already know you need to file a workers’ compensation claim to pay your medical bills. But what about your wages? If you need to be out of work recovering from surgery or healing from an injury, how will you pay your […]

How Does Workers’ Comp Work in Virginia?   Workers’ compensation is the money you receive for beinginjured or getting sick because of your job. A construction worker breaking their leg at work and a firefighter who has cancer because of the burning materials he inhaled both would file workers’ compensation claims. But how does it […]

What is Vocational Rehabilitation for Workers’ Comp?   If you’re injured at work and you’re unable to go back to your previous job, either for a long time or permanently, you might be referred to vocational rehabilitation. “Vocational rehabilitation” is a longer way of saying a program that helps you find a job or trains […]

Does Workers’ Comp Cover Death? If your family member dies due to an accident at work, you’ll have a lot of emotions. Once the initial shock is over, you may be wondering if workers’ compensation in Virginia will pay for your family member’s death.   Workers’ Comp Death Benefits Yes, Virginia workers’ comp will pay […]

Numerous decisions of the Supreme Court of Virginia have pronounced thatthe Workers’ Compensation Act is remedial legislation which is entitled to aliberal interpretation in favor of claimants. In recent years, lawyers forclaimants have wondered whether the courts now view this pronouncement as emptyrhetoric. Occasionally, however, a decision shows that at least some judgesstill “get it.” […]

If you’re injured at work, you should file a workers’ compensation claim to receive the benefits you’re entitled to. You may also think about filing for Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI. But how does workers’ compensation affect SSDI? ‍ What is Workers’ Comp? Workers’ compensation is the money you receive after an injury at […]

If you’re hurt because of an accident at work, you can and should file for workers’ compensation. Workers’ comp can pay for your medical bills and give you some money for lost wages. But how do you get the money? ‍File a Claim After you’re hurt at work, tell your boss. Then go see a […]

If your family member dies due to an accident at work, you’ll have a lot of emotions. Once the initial shock is over, you may be wondering if workers’ compensation in Virginia will pay for your family member’s death.   Workers’ Comp Death Benefits Yes, Virginia workers’ comp will pay death benefits to dependent family […]

 Workers’ compensation benefits are available for people who are injured or become ill because of their job. Since the money is in response to an issue at work, you might worry that workers’ comp comes out of your paycheck. The benefits don’t come out of your paycheck, but if the injury means you can’t work […]

For an injury at work to be compensable, the accident causing the injury must “arise out of” the employment.             Many states follow the “positional risk”doctrine. An accident arises from work so long as the employee is present(i.e., “positioned”) at work when the accident occurs. ‍ Virginia follows the “actual […]

If you’re injured at work, you’ll file for workers’compensation benefits for your medical bills and missing income. Whether or notyour workers’ comp benefits count as income varies depending on what type of income you’re looking at.   The following information is for general guidance only and should not be taken as tax advice.Speak with your […]