What is the Workers’ Compensation process in D.C.?

If you were hurt on the job in Washington, D.C.—or you mostly work in D.C. but were injured in Maryland or Virginia—you may be entitled to Workers’ Compensation benefits under the D.C. system. It’s important to follow the right steps early on to protect your health, your job, and your benefits.

Frank Kearney, our experienced workers’ compensation attorney, has written an entire book on the D.C. Workers’ Compensation system. But here’s a clear breakdown of what to do first:

Step 1: Report the Injury to Your Employer

You have 30 days from the date of your injury to notify your employer. This is one of the most important steps in the Workers’ Compensation process.

What does “reporting your injury” actually mean?

It means telling someone with authority at your job—like a supervisor, foreman, or HR. Telling a coworker doesn’t count. You also need to say that the injury happened at work. Too often, we hear from people who said their back hurt or called in sick without explaining that the injury came from something that happened on the job. That’s not enough.

You need to be specific and connect your injury to the work activity.

Examples of how to report a work injury:

• “I hurt my back lifting a pipe yesterday.”

• “I injured my shoulder while installing a compressor.”

• “I slipped and fell and now my neck and back are hurting.”

Whenever possible, report your injury in writing—especially if your workplace uses an incident report. But even a text to your supervisor or foreman may count, as long as you save a copy.

If your injury developed over time from repetitive work or physical strain, report it within 30 days of when you learned from a doctor that it was work-related. This could be the date of your diagnosis.

Step 2: Get Medical Treatment for Your Work Injury

In both the D.C. and Maryland Workers’ Compensation systems, you have the right to choose your own doctor. You do not have to go to a “workers clinic” or any medical provider recommended by your employer or the insurance company.

Why is this important? Because many of these clinics and doctors get all their referrals from insurance companies. That means they’re not necessarily focused on your best interests—they’re focused on saving money for the insurer.

Workers’ Compensation should be about protecting your future—your health, your ability to work, and your ability to take care of your family. A walk-in clinic might not have the right specialists for your condition, and they’re less likely to order important tests that the insurance company would have to pay for.

Here’s what you can do:

• If your injury is serious, go to the hospital right away. Then follow up with specialists in the D.C. area.

• Most doctors, physical therapists, hospitals, and surgery centers in the area accept Workers’ Compensation insurance.

• If you’re taken to the hospital immediately, you probably won’t have your Workers’ Comp claim set up yet. That’s OK—you can use your health insurance for now. We’ll help sort that out later.

Don’t delay the treatment you need. Getting the right care early can make all the difference in your recovery.

Step 3: Don’t Sign Anything from the Insurance Company Without Legal Advice

After a work injury, the insurance company will usually try two things right away:

1. Get a recorded interview with you

2. Have you sign medical release forms

Do not agree to either of these before speaking with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney.

Why you should avoid recorded interviews

These interviews are done by experienced insurance adjusters who are trained to ask questions that can hurt your case. If you’re in pain, on medication, or unsure how to answer, something you say—even by accident—could be used to deny or delay your claim. That’s why we never allow our clients to be interviewed by adjusters. We handle all communication to protect them.

Be careful with medical release forms

The insurance company may ask you to sign a release that gives them access to your entire medical history—not just the records related to your work injury. They may claim they need this to process your claim. That’s not true.

What they’re really doing is looking for preexisting conditions—any past injury, illness, or symptom they can point to in order to deny your benefits. For example, if you tore your ACL at work, they’ll dig through old records to find any past mention of knee pain, even from 25 years ago, and say your injury wasn’t caused by work.

Don’t let them twist your medical history against you. Always check with a workers’ compensation attorney before signing anything.

Step 4: File Your Claim in the Right Jurisdiction

If you live or work in Washington, D.C., Maryland, or Virginia, it’s critical to file your Workers’ Compensation claim in the correct state. Each jurisdiction has different rules, deadlines, and benefit amounts—and choosing the wrong one can cost you a lot.

Most people don’t realize how much money they could lose by filing in the wrong place. We often see this happen when someone tries to handle the claim alone, or hires a lawyer who doesn’t focus on Workers’ Compensation and doesn’t understand the differences between each system.

Why jurisdiction matters:

• Benefit rates and maximum payments vary by state

• D.C. benefits are often higher than those in Maryland or Virginia

• Insurance companies know this—and will try to push your claim into a lower-benefit state like Maryland or Virginia, even if your injury qualifies under D.C. law

Once you’ve filed in another state and accepted benefits there, you can’t go back and file in D.C. even if that’s where your claim should have been. That’s why it’s so important to speak with a D.C. workers’ compensation lawyer before filing anything.

And remember—never sign any forms from the insurance company until you’ve gotten legal advice. Filing in the wrong place is one of the most common and costly mistakes we see.

Step 5: Get the Right Information and Advice About the Workers’ Compensation System

After a work injury, you’re suddenly dealing with a complex insurance system—and it’s no longer your employer calling the shots. Now it’s the insurance company making decisions about your medical care and your benefits.

These companies have experienced claims adjusters, lawyers, doctors, case managers, and investigators—all working to protect their bottom line, not your recovery. Their job is to limit what they pay, delay your treatment, or even deny your claim altogether.

But you don’t have to face that alone.

Sometimes a quick phone call is all it takes to ease the stress and get clarity on what to do next. Talking to us is free, confidential, and there’s no obligation. We’re here to help you get started the right way and avoid the common traps that can hurt your claim.

At Donahoe Kearney, our experienced workers’ compensation team is dedicated to helping injured workers in Washington, D.C. understand their rights and protect their future. We offer free resources, easy-to-understand information, and real guidance from people who know the system inside and out.

Give us a call today at 202-393-3320 or book your free consultation here. You’ll talk to a real person who listens and helps you take the first step toward getting the benefits you deserve.