Workers Comp Archives - Zirkin and Schmerling Law

Maryland Workers’ Compensation Laws You Should Know

Maryland is one of 49 states in the country that requires employers to have workers’ compensation insurance to protect employees who are injured, sickened, or disabled while on the job by providing wage replacement and medical care.  The state’s General Assembly passed the first workers’ compensation law in the United States in 1902. Although that […]

Valuing a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Maryland

Workers’ compensation in Maryland allows employees who have been injured on the job to receive benefits to help pay for their injuries. These benefits primarily include compensation for medical expenses and loss of wages relating to the workplace accident and injuries sustained.  However, no two workers’ compensation cases are the same, and thus there is […]

Dangerous Chemicals and Workers’ Compensation

Many people are exposed to dangerous chemicals every day at work, sometimes without even knowing it. From medical researchers to auto mechanics, the dangers workers face span a variety of different industries. When accidents happen at work, deadly fumes and fluids may be released and inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin. Not only can […]

I Fell At Work, What Should I Do?

Workplace slip and fall accidents can lead to serious or even fatal injuries. According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 603 Americans die from workplace slip and fall accidents every year, and 213,000 workers suffer from slip and fall injuries annually. These accidents are common across many different industries. If you’re involved […]

What if a Dog Bites Me at Work?

When you head to work, you don’t expect your day to end with a severe dog bite. But it happens to thousands of working people every year. A dog bite at work is even more complicated than one at home or out in your neighborhood. Work-related dog bites often involve company investigations and paperwork, health […]

A presumption in favor of granting COVID-19 workers’ compensation benefits?

As of August 28, 2020, Honolulu firefighters are asking the mayor of their city to make it easier for them to obtain workers’ compensation benefits related to COVID-19. Specifically, the firefighters are hoping that the mayor will enact a legal presumption in their favor. This would mean that if a firefighter gets sick with COVID-19, […]

If an Employee Catches COVID-19 at Work and Dies, Can the Family Sue the Employer for Wrongful Death?

As the country continues to reel from the coronavirus pandemic, new legal issues also arise. There has been talk in the media of people bringing wrongful death lawsuits against companies, alleging that the companies are responsible for the deaths of their loved ones who contracted COVID-19 while at work. Employers and employees alike are wondering: […]

What Liability Do Businesses Have for Employees Returning to Work?

The State of Maryland’s Roadmap to Recovery has hit phase two and we’ve “flattened the curve” by limiting COVID-19’s impact on the state. Many types of businesses are now at least partially open to the public, including restaurants, amusement parks, gyms, casinos, malls, manufacturing, professional services, retail outlets, and more. So what does this mean […]

Permanent Partial Disability and COVID-19 Part II

In Part I of this blog post, I gave a basic overview of permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits.  So what kind of permanent partial disability benefits might someone who gets infected with COVID-19 at work expect to receive?  Permanent partial disability benefits usually involve lasting physical effects.  I found at least one news article describing […]