Tag: Maryland

Maryland Workers Compensation

Are Maryland Workers’ Comp Benefits Taxable?

Are workers’ compensation benefits in Maryland taxable?  It is that time of year that this question comes up frequently. The answer is NO.  Workers’ compensation benefits are paid to injured workers.  The checks come without any taxes deducted.  Additionally, settlement funds and permanency award lump sums also arrive without any deductions.  So does an injured worker in Maryland have to set a portion of their funds back for state and federal taxes? Workers’ compensation awards […]

Maryland Workers Compensation

Rotator Cuff tears in Maryland Workers’ Compensation

Rotator cuff injuries are some of the most common injuries I have seen in my Maryland workers’ compensation practice.  Particularly in the Hagerstown area where we see significant warehouse and distribution growth.  The rotator cuff is made up of four muscles in your shoulder area.  The four specific muscles are  the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis.  These four muscles attach to the  bone in your shoulder.  These four muscles wrap around the shoulder and form […]

Maryland Workers Compensation

In Maryland, Seven Things to NOT DO in an IME

Independent Medical Examinations are frequent in workers compensation cases in Maryland and  Pennsylvania.  Just a few quick words about an IME.  First, they are not ‘independent’ exams.  These are exams scheduled by the workers’ compensation insurance carrier, with a doctor they choose, and scheduled most often for very specific reasons.  Those reasons may include attempt to get a full recovery opinion, to deny medical treatment, or to return the injured worker back to work.  You […]

Maryland Workers Compensation

What are ‘issues’ in Maryland Workers’ Comp?

The adjudication process of a Maryland workers’ compensation claim is significantly different than adjudication of a workers’ compensation claim in Pennsylvania.  Starting the adjudication process in Maryland is usually done by the filing of “Issues”.  What exactly are ‘issues’ in a Maryland Workers’ compensation case? Essentially, if either the injured worker or the employer/insurance carrier wants a hearing before the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC) about a matter, issues would be filed.  The filing of […]

Maryland Workers Compensation

A Workers Compensation Hearing in Maryland

A Maryland Workers Compensation hearing occurs when there is a dispute between the injured employee and the employer/insurance carrier.  The initial dispute may be because your employer is disputing the occurrence of a work injury.  A hearing may be scheduled because you are not receiving on wage loss benefits.  A hearing may be scheduled because there is a dispute on the extent of permanency of the work injury.  There are many reasons why a workers […]

Maryland Workers Compensation, Uncategorized

Five Steps When Injured at Work in Maryland

There are five easy steps that Maryland injured workers can take to protect their claim for benefits.  These steps are fairly simple, but you will be surprised how often some, or all, are not followed by an injured worker, thus causing significant complications in their claim. Step One:  Report the Work Injury When you suffer an injury at work in Maryland, it is imperative that you report the injury right away to your employer.  First, […]

Case Law, Maryland Workers Compensation

Hernias do not meet occupational disease definition in Maryland workers compensation

Hernia work injuries must occur form an accidental injury to be compensable in Maryland workers compensation.  Recently, the Maryland Court of Appeals decided a case on hernias and occupational disease. Let’s start there.  Under the Maryland Workers Compensation Act, an injured worker can claim an accidental injury or an occupational disease. The definition of these distinct injures are: An accidental injury is one that happens ‘by chance or without design, taking place unexpectedly or unintentionally.” […]

Maryland Workers Compensation

Can Maryland injured workers choose their own doctor?

The answer to the question is, in Maryland, you can choose your own doctor to treat for a Maryland worker-related injury.  Besides wage loss benefits, the biggest concern of any injured worker is their own medical treatment. Because Pennsylvania and Maryland neighbor each other, injured workers often get confused at differences between the two states when handling a work-related injury.  Many injured workers we represent live in northern Maryland or live in Pennsylvania, but get […]