Workers’ compensation helps if you get hurt at work and can’t do your job. It covers your medical treatment and gives you part of your pay while you recover. You don’t need to prove it was anyone’s fault. But insurance companies don’t make it easy—they delay treatment, deny benefits, and try to get you back to work too soon.
At Donahoe Kearney, we help hardworking people in the Washington, D.C. area get the workers’ comp benefits they need after a serious injury. We also understand how things work in Virginia and Maryland—where you file your claim can change the benefits you get and the doctor you’re allowed to see.
Who Qualifies for Workers’ Compensation
You may qualify if:
You were hurt while doing your job
You told your employer about the injury on time
Your employer has workers’ comp insurance
You need medical care or work restrictions
This covers all kinds of workers—construction, healthcare, delivery, retail, and more.
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Where To File a Claim
Filing your workers’ comp claim in the right state matters. Sometimes where you live, where you work, and where you were hurt are all different—and that could mean you have more than one option. But you can only file in one place, and once you do, you’re locked in.
Here’s what to know:
D.C. usually offers better wage benefits and lets you choose your own doctor. You generally have 1 year from the injury or last payment to file.
Maryland has different rules for how much you’re paid and how treatment is handled. Most claims must be filed within 2 years.
Virginia has strict deadlines. You must report the injury to your employer within 30 days and file your claim within 2 years. You’ll also have to choose from a list of doctors provided by the insurance company.
We see all kinds of serious injuries from hardworking people across the D.C. area. Some of the most common include:
Torn rotator cuffs and shoulder injuries from lifting, reaching, or repetitive motion
Back injuries from moving heavy equipment
Construction site accidents, including falls from ladders, scaffolding collapses, or crush injuries
Nurses and hospital workers injured while lifting patients or slipping on wet floors
Delivery drivers injured while lifting packages or driving for work
Warehouse workers hurt while loading trucks or using heavy equipment
These injuries often need surgery or rehab. We help you get the treatment and benefits to recover.
How Surgery Can Affect Your Workers’ Comp Case
Surgery often leads to insurance delays, extra medical reviews, and pressure to return to work too soon. This video explains how surgery affects approval, benefits, and recovery in a workers’ compensation case.
Light Duty Work
Light duty work means a temporary job with fewer physical demands, given while you recover from a work injury. It can include shorter hours, sitting instead of standing, or doing tasks that don’t involve lifting or heavy labor.
You should only return to light duty if your doctor says it’s safe and the job follows your medical restrictions
If the work is too physical, causes more pain, or doesn’t match your limits, you can say no. Taking the wrong light duty job could hurt your recovery—or your workers’ comp case.
What If Your Claim Was Denied
If your claim was denied, don’t give up. Most people come to us after they’ve been turned down—and we help them get approved.
Here’s what we’ll do:
Review your case
Get the records and evidence needed
Represent you in a hearing if the insurance company won’t cooperate
Can I Get Fired While on Workers’ Compensation?
Yes, your employer can let you go while you’re on workers’ comp—but not because you filed a claim. That’s illegal.
They may lay you off for other reasons—like business changes or because your job can’t be held. But even if that happens:
Your workers’ comp benefits don’t stop
You can still get medical care and weekly checks
The insurance company still has to pay if your doctor says you’re recovering
We’ve helped people keep their benefits even after being let go.
You may qualify for both, depending on your situation. We’ll explain how they work together and make sure you’re covered.
What’s the difference between Workers’ Comp and Personal Injury Cases?
Workers’ compensation covers workplace injuries without needing to prove fault and excludes pain and suffering. Personal injury cases involve proving negligence and can include compensation for pain and suffering. You can pursue both types of claims simultaneously.
Get Help from a Workers’ Comp Lawyer Who Knows What You’re Going Through
A work injury can affect your health, your paycheck, and your future. Dealing with insurance delays, paperwork, and deadlines only adds more stress.
We help injured workers protect their benefits and get the medical care and wage support they need while they recover. You focus on getting better. We’ll handle the workers’ compensation process.
We’ve been helping people in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia with serious injuries for over 30 years.
You’re here because of a serious injury or medical condition. Now you’re dealing with an insurance company. You want your life back. We get that. We help guide you through this process so you can stand up to the insurance company and get back your financial security, control and independence.
I owe the people of Donahoe Kearney a kidney. They’re the best and only law firm you should go to for anything related to workers’ compensation law.
As someone who has never navigated the legal system before, I was initially very nervous and apprehensive about the process. Despite it all, Paul remained incredibly responsive, knowledgeable, and patient. I couldn’t have asked for a better paralegal for my case.
They recovered several months of back pay and ensured that the medical treatment for my work injury would be covered. I can’t thank them enough for the peace of mind they’ve provided me, and I wish I could give more than five stars.
