Getting a notice that your workers' compensation case has been set for a hearing can be unsettling, especially if you've never been to court. Here's why hearings happen, what the day looks like, and what you need to know to be ready. A word up front: the Virginia Workers' Compensation...
Author: J Aaron Thomas
Virginia Workers Comp Attorney J. Aaron Thomas is both, a licensed Physical Therapist and an attorney licensed with the State of Virginia. he has recovered millions of dollars in combined settlements for his workers' compensation clients since 2013. He has been successful at the hearing level and has overturned numerous unfavorable claimant decisions with the Virginia Worker's Comp Commission.
Settling a Virginia Workers’ Comp Case: What It Means and How It Works
At some point in many workers' compensation cases, the question comes up: should I settle? A lump sum of money can be appealing, especially after months of reduced income and medical appointments. But a settlement is a final decision with long-term consequences, and it's worth understanding exactly what you'd be...
Choosing and Changing Your Doctor in a Virginia Workers’ Comp Case
Right after a work injury, your employer or the insurance adjuster may tell you which doctor to see. It feels like the easy thing to do, and you want to get treated. But simply accepting the doctor your employer picks is the first mistake many injured workers make. In a...
No Light Duty Available? Your Virginia Workers’ Comp Job Search Requirements
Your doctor has cleared you for light duty, but your employer says there's no work that fits your restrictions. Many injured workers assume workers' compensation will simply keep paying. Don't assume that. Whether your checks continue depends on the legal status of your claim, and, in many cases, on what...
Reinjured an Old Injury at Work? Virginia Workers’ Comp and Pre-Existing Conditions
Maybe you hurt your back years ago, or had knee surgery after a high school football injury. Now a workplace accident has hurt that same body part again. Many injured workers assume a prior injury means they can't get workers' compensation. That isn't true. In Virginia, reinjuring a previously injured...
Insurance Claim vs. Commission Claim: Why Filing With the Virginia Workers’ Comp Commission Matters
After a work injury, you report it to your employer, the insurance company opens a file, and maybe your medical bills start getting paid and checks start arriving. It's easy to assume your claim is "filed" and your rights are protected. They may not be. Filing a claim with your...
Hurt From Heavy Lifting at Work? When Virginia Workers’ Comp Covers It
Warehouse workers, nurses, movers, construction crews and stockers lift heavy loads all day long. When your back, shoulder or neck finally gives out, it's natural to assume workers' compensation will cover it. In Virginia, that isn't always the case. Whether you can get benefits for a lifting injury depends almost...
Is Carpal Tunnel Covered by Workers’ Comp in Virginia?
Numbness, tingling and weakness in your hand and wrist can make it hard to do your job, or anything else. If you believe your work caused your carpal tunnel syndrome, you may be able to get Virginia workers' compensation benefits. But carpal tunnel claims are among the hardest to win,...
Hurt Driving to or From Work? Virginia’s Coming and Going Rule Explained
A car wreck on the way to your shift. A fall on ice walking in from the parking lot. A crash on the drive home after a long day. Each of these happens because of work, in a sense. But whether Virginia workers' compensation covers it depends on a legal...
Can I Be Fired for Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim in Virginia?
It's one of the most common questions injured workers ask us. Many people hesitate to file a workers' compensation claim because they're afraid of losing their job. Others believe that as long as they're under a doctor's care, their employer can't let them go. The truth sits between those two...
