Rights of Injured Workers

Know Your Rights

Maryland was the first state in America to pass statewide workers’ compensation laws. Today, all employers throughout the state are legally required to hold workers’ compensation insurance or, in the alternative, to gain approval as a self-insured employer. This ensures that the rights of injured workers will be protected in the unfortunate and unforeseen events of personal injury.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury or illness in the course of performing your job, Maryland’s workers’ compensation laws provide you with the following rights:

  • Temporary Partial Disability (TPD)
    You may obtain benefits for a temporary period when you are not totally disabled and are able to perform limited or part-time duties at a reduced income level. With TPD, the employer pays you 50% of the difference between your average weekly wage and the wage you receive while temporarily partially disabled (subject to 50% of the state’s average weekly wage).
  • Temporary Total Disability (TTD)
    If your injury or illness prevents you from doing any type of work, then you may be eligible to receive temporary total disability benefits (TTD). If the period of disability is 14 days or less, benefits may not be allowed for the first three days of disablement (with the exception of medical bills). If the period of disability lasts for more than 14 days, then benefits are allowed from the date of disability. Under TTD, you can receive up to two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to the maximum of the average weekly wage for the state of Maryland. TTD benefits provide wage supplementation during the period in which you cannot work at all. When you are no longer considered totally disabled and can return to work in some or total capacity, TTD benefits will stop.
  • Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)
    If and when it is discovered that your work-related injury has resulted in a permanent partial disability, you may be eligible to receive PPD benefits. Your PPD benefit payments and the duration of these payments will be determined according to the nature of your impairment and what work you are able to perform.
  • Permanent Total Disability (PTD)
    When it is determined that your work-related injury or illness has left your permanently and totally disabled and unable to perform any type of work, you may qualify for PTD benefits. PTD benefits are equal to two-thirds of your average weekly wage, with a maximum of Maryland’s average weekly wage.

Injured workers who file successful claims are also eligible to obtain medical benefits that may include:

  • Medical, surgical or other treatment
  • Hospital and nursing services
  • Medicine
  • Crutches and other medical devices
  • Artificial prosthetics

Employers are also required to reimburse injured workers for lost wages resulting from the time spent being examined by a physician or other examiner when requested by the employer, insurer or in the course of filing their workers’ compensation claim. Vocational rehabilitation benefits for up to 24 months are also available to injured workers, and may include: vocational assessment, evaluation, counseling, plan development and monitoring, training and job placement. Families of injured workers also have the right to file claims fordeath benefits, including loss of financial support, and reimbursement for funeral expenses.

Enlist the Help of a Maryland Personal Injury Lawyer

At Peter Angelos Law, our Maryland workers’ compensation attorneys have been advocating for the rights of injured workers for more than 50 years. Our firm has helped numerous injured workers and families obtain the compensation they deserved.

If you would like more information about your rights as an injured worker and how our firm can help protect them, contact us for a free consultation.