Harrisonburg Workers’ Compensation
For 50 years, the Ritchie Law Firm has been helping injured workers’ with their Virginia workers’ compensation claims. Your workers’ comp team at the Ritchie Law Firm focuses on getting you the best medical treatment to help you heal from your injuries and getting you the compensation you deserve.
The Ritchie Law Firm provides workers’ compensation services in Harrisonburg VA, Fairfax, and throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Understanding Virginia Workers Compensation
Types of Workers’ Compensation Claims
In Virginia, workers’ compensation claims can vary based on the nature and severity of the injury or illness. Here are the main types of claims:
- Medical-only claims: Filed when an employee requires medical treatment for a work-related injury or illness but does not miss any work time.
- Lost-time claims: Filed when an employee misses work due to a work-related injury or illness.
- Temporary Partial claims: This lost time claim is for injured workers whose medical provider has them on light-duty work.
- Temporary Total claims: This lost time claim is filed by injured employees whose doctor or other medical provider has recommended they not work at all for a period of time.
- Permanent partial disability claims: Filed when an employee sustains a permanent injury or illness that partially affects their ability to work.
- Permanent total disability claims: Filed when an employee suffers a permanent injury or illness that completely prevents them from working.
- Death claims: Filed when an employee dies as a result of a work-related injury or illness.
Understanding these different types of claims can help employees navigate the workers compensation process more effectively.
Injured Workers: Factory Worker Case Study
Recently, the Ritchie Law Firm handled a workers’ comp case we’ve handled for a client who worked for a local poultry plant in Rockingham County, Virginia. Our client had worked for the poultry plant for several years on the factory line. On the day of her injury, she was walking on the plant floor, slipped on grease, and rolled her ankle by accident during the course of employment. A co-worker caught her and prevented her from falling completely to the floor.
Within an hour of the incident, the injured worker began experiencing excruciating pain in her ankle. She reported the incident to the plant nurse, who sent her to an urgent care facility in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Because the poultry plant did not have an in-house doctor, the urgent care facility served as the “company doctor” As our client was on her way to the urgent care facility, the company nurse called ahead and faxed a document telling the doctors that the employee had not fallen during the incident and that they thought she was faking.
The doctor on duty documented that he didn’t see a scratch on the ankle or foot. He also indicated that he thought her complaints of pain were out of proportion to her injury. The injured worker continued to follow the instructions of her employer and continued to treat at the urgent care facility and the local emergency room. She was having excruciating ankle pain, but no physician believed she had sustained an actual ankle injury. She asked for a new doctor, but her request was denied.
Getting the right medical treatment
While the injured worker was seeking treatment from urgent care and the emergency room, her ankle began to contract and her foot started to turn in. When she sought representation from the Ritchie Law Firm, we were able to fight the insurance company to get her to another doctor. Our firm got her to a pain management specialist who immediately diagnosed her with CRPS – complex regional pain syndrome. Our client’s treatment and recovery were influenced by the unique circumstances of her case.
Our doctor wrote a letter to the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission citing a medical journal article on CRPS. The article offered examples of patients diagnosed with CRPS who had sustained seemingly simple injuries with no evidence of bruising or more serious damage. The article supported the worker’s claims of excruciating pain after a simple mechanical injury. The injured worker’s doctor also stated in the letter that if the workers’ comp insurance company would not have delayed, he may have been able to save the worker’s foot. But, since the insurance company refused to give her a new doctor and the proper medical treatment, she may lose the bottom part of her leg. The worker’s injury continues to progress and she is now having symptoms in her other foot and leg.
Insurance company battles
The workers’ comp insurance company fought our client every step of the way. Our law firm has battled to be allowed to send her to another doctor and to get her compensation benefits. The worker’s doctor recommended that she get Botox injections, and the insurance company fought that as well. Recently, the doctor ordered a wheelchair for her, which the insurance company also fought.
Our firm has been able to win benefits, medical treatment, and the cost of medical supplies for this worker. The worker’s struggles were compounded by the regulatory framework of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Even though the laws of Virginia that regulate workers’ compensation can be complex, the Ritchie Law Firm has successfully resolved tens of thousands of work injury issues. We might be able to help you too.
Common Industries and Occupations Affected
Certain industries and occupations in Virginia are more susceptible to work-related injuries and illnesses. Here are some of the most commonly affected sectors:
- Construction: Workers face risks from falls, electrocution, and being struck by objects.
- Manufacturing: Employees are at risk from machinery, equipment, and hazardous materials.
- Healthcare: Workers often suffer injuries from lifting and moving patients and exposure to infectious diseases.
- Transportation: Risks include accidents, falls, and being struck by objects.
- Agriculture: Workers face dangers from machinery, equipment, and hazardous materials.
These industries highlight the importance of workers compensation in protecting Virginia workers from the financial impact of job-related injuries.
Vocational Rehabilitation in Harrisonburg, Virginia
Vocational rehabilitation is a crucial program that assists injured workers in returning to work after a job-related injury or illness. In Harrisonburg, Virginia, these services are available through the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission and private rehabilitation providers. The program offers:
- Job placement assistance: Counselors help injured workers find new employment that matches their skills and abilities.
- Training and education: Programs provide training to develop new skills and enhance employability.
- Career counseling: Counselors work with injured workers to set career goals and create a plan to achieve them.
- Job accommodations: Programs may offer adaptive equipment or workplace modifications to help injured workers perform their duties.
Vocational rehabilitation in Harrisonburg, Virginia, aims to support injured workers in finding suitable employment and continuing their careers despite their injuries.
Your Harrisonburg Virginia Workers’ Compensation Team
If you are injured on the job, your employer may tell you that they will take care of you and everything will work out fine. But, this may or may not be the case. When you are faced with a work injury, it is often best to at least get some advice from a lawyer to make sure you don’t encounter problems down the road. You can have your case evaluated by one of our Virginia Workers’ Compensation lawyers for free. If you want us to handle your case, there is no fee unless we win for you.
At the Ritchie Law Firm, we specialize handling cases for injured people and NEVER represent insurance companies. Workers’ compensation claims are complex and require an attorney who understands the system. A general practice lawyer who doesn’t deal with workers’ comp on a daily basis is not likely to have the experience necessary to provide the best representation. The Ritchie Law Firm specializes in workers’ compensation cases throughout the commonwealth of Virginia, including Richmond VA and Roanoke.
Our workers’ comp team at the Ritchie Law Firm is happy to sit down with you to see if you have a claim that needs an attorney’s expertise. It doesn’t cost anything to talk with us. We may give you information to help you handle your claim on your own. We have a wealth of information and resources available to us, and we’re always happy to share.
Give us a call today at 800-277-6124 for your NO STRINGS ATTACHED conversation with our workers’ comp. lawyers. We handle Virginia Workers’ Compensation cases out of our offices in Harrisonburg, Winchester, Charlottesville, and Staunton, Va. Or, if you just want to test the waters first, get some more information by filling out the form below. We look forward to working with you.
Need More Information About Virginia Workers’ Comp?
Contact Us at the Ritchie Law Firm
No Fee Until We Win!
Call today 540-433-6124, fill out the form below or
download our free ebook
