How To Handle Your Washington DC Workers Compensation Case

If have a work-related injury that occurred in Washington D.C. or you believe that the claim should be filed in the District of Columbia, the experienced Washington D.C. workers compensation lawyers at Foran & Foran, P.A. are ready to discuss your case. We can help you determine the proper jurisdiction where the claim belongs and help you file the claim properly.

Washington D.C. has very specific procedures you must follow. If you fail to follow all the workers’ compensation procedures, then the insurance company will almost certainly you’re your application and you will be left without a remedy.

After your accident, one of the first things you should do is provide notice of the accident (and your injuries) to your employer. Under D.C. law, you must give written notice to your employer and supervisor. If you fail to give your employer proper notice, it can be a complete bar to recovery, meaning you will be ineligible for workers compensation benefits. In a Washington D.C. workers compensation claim, injured workers have 30 days to provide proper notice. If you have any questions regarding how notice must be given in the District of Columbia, please contact the experienced Washington D.C. workers’ compensation lawyers at Foran & Foran, P.A.

You must also adhere to the treating physician rule in District of Columbia workers’ compensation cases. This means that you must choose a treating physician to treat you for your injuries in the accident—and you must stick with them until you are given approval to change doctors. Typically, only your employer’s insurance company will have the authority to grant your request to change doctors.

Washington D.C. has a few other crucial deadlines you must follow. For example, you must file the claim form (form 7A) with the Office of Workers Compensation within one year of date of the accident. After the claim form is filed, and an OWC claim number is generated, there are different procedures in place for filing for a hearing before the Office of Workers Compensation or the Administrative Hearings Division. These procedures are different depending upon what relief you are seeking. You should consult a Washington D.C. workers compensation lawyer to discuss these options what is best for you and your case. When your case is in the D.C. Office of Workers Compensation or the Administrative Hearings Division in the District of Columbia, the cases can be heard for a number of issues for indemnity(money) benefits or medical benefits.

If you successfully submit a Washington D.C. workers’ compensation application, you’ll end up recovering benefits that cover your medical expenses and lost wages, which can make recovering after a workplace accident much easier. However, it’s common for workers to encounter hurdles along the way. If you’re struggling to get a workers’ compensation application approved, or you fear that the insurance company may deny your claim, reach out to the Washington D.C. workers’ compensation attorneys at Foran & Foran, P.A. for immediate assistance.

If you or someone you care about was recently hurt in a workplace accident and are currently struggling to deal with the economic impact of your injuries, reach out to the dedicated Washington D.C. workers’ compensation attorneys at Foran & Foran, P.A. At Foran & Foran, P.A., we have more than six decades of experience helping injured works recover the benefits they need, deserve, and are legally entitled to. We also provide free consultations, during which we will answer all your questions, explain the process, and discuss what we can do to help connect you with benefits. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation today, call us at 301-441-2022 or connect with us online by filling out our secure online form.