Gaithersburg Teachers & School Employees Injury Attorney
Teachers are an instrumental part of their students’ growth and development. As a career, teaching offers wonderful rewards and incredible stress. The job often involves much more than simply instructing students on how to read and write.
Unfortunately, sometimes the job comes with risks. Teachers file more workers’ compensation claims than most other professions. In some Maryland cities, only police file more claims than do educators. Sometimes teachers are injured because they are breaking up fights; other times, rambunctious kids might accidentally injure a teacher. When these incidents occur, the injuries can be severe and impact the teacher’s life, work, and income.
Teachers are entitled to collect workers’ compensation benefits for work-related injuries in Gaithersburg. It is important to understand what type of compensation is available and how to collect for injuries sustained on the job. Teachers may also find that the benefits that are offered are not enough to cover their medical needs or to replace their lost income. Other times, the claim may be completely denied.
Hiring a Gaithersburg workers’ compensation attorney can help an injured educator navigate the workers’ compensation system and recover much-needed benefits. Call Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP today at 301-670-7030 to speak with one of our skilled workers’ compensation attorneys.
What is Covered by Workers’ Compensation for Teachers in Gaithersburg?
Teachers may have some options to recover from workers’ compensation that are not available to other professionals. In general, workers’ compensation insurance will cover the expenses associated with medical care, including surgery, hospital stays, and rehabilitative care. There are sometimes restrictions on what will be covered. For example, when a workers’ compensation recipient undergoes physical therapy, the benefits might only cover a certain amount of time or number of sessions. People who learn what will be covered and will not be covered early on in their claim process can make more educated decisions about their care.
Workers’ compensation also covers income replacement for lost wages. However, the policies will typically only pay two-thirds of the normal pay. In this regard, teachers often have a better way to recover their lost income. Teachers’ unions offer coverage that will apply for a limited amount of time but provides complete income replacement. The details of those policies vary, but in many cases, opting for this coverage will help the educator collect more compensation. When it comes to covering the costs associated with on-the-job injuries and the need to continue to support a family, the added payments might be incredibly important.
If you are a Gaithersburg teacher or school support employee who sustained an injury at work, contact an attorney to understand your options and to ensure that you get the compensation that you are owed.
What Injuries are Covered by Workers’ Compensation?
Maryland educators can recover for injuries caused in the course of their employment. In many situations, the injuries will be the result of an accident that took place at work. The injuries can usually be linked to some event that happened at work, indicating that the harm is work-related. Other times, an illness or injury could be related to work, but the link might be more challenging to prove. In those cases, the claim could be denied.
If your Gaithersburg workers’ compensation claim was denied, contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. There are ways to challenge the denial of a workers’ compensation claim. Contacting an attorney will mean that you will have an advocate who can fight to have your claim approved.
What if I was Hurt but Think It Might Have Been My Fault?
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. If you are a Gaithersburg teacher or school support employee and you were hurt on the job, you do not have to show that your employer was negligent to collect benefits. On the other hand, if your employer were negligent, you would not have the ability to file a lawsuit to recover. The system works to ensure that injuries are covered for educators, even in the absence of wrongdoing. If you made a mistake in the course of your job and suffered an injury, you should be able to recover compensation for your injuries.
For your employer, the workers’ compensation system helps avoid litigation. Lawsuits are expensive to defend against, and it is in the best interest of employers to prevent the possibility of constant litigation. Payouts for a personal injury lawsuit may be for larger sums, but far fewer cases would succeed if the injured educator had to prove negligence in order to collect compensation.
Gaithersburg, Maryland Educator Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
If you are a teacher or school support employee in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and suffered an injury at work, contact Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP to discuss your claim. We understand how important your case is to you and your family. Call 301-670-7030 to schedule a consultation and learn how we can help.