{"id":2552,"date":"2024-01-22T20:47:07","date_gmt":"2024-01-22T20:47:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/donahoekearney.com\/?post_type=faqs&p=2552"},"modified":"2025-06-13T18:40:11","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T18:40:11","slug":"is-a-recorded-statement-required-for-d-c-workers-compensation-benefits","status":"publish","type":"faqs","link":"https:\/\/donahoekearney.com\/faqs\/is-a-recorded-statement-required-for-d-c-workers-compensation-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"Is a recorded statement required for D.C. Workers’ Compensation benefits?"},"content":{"rendered":"

You do not have to give a recorded statement to get workers’ compensation benefits in Washington, D.C.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Unfortunately, we hear this a lot from people who have been legitimately hurt on the job in D.C. and should be receiving D.C. workers’ compensation benefits.<\/p>\n

There is absolutely no requirement that you give a recorded statement to your adjuster in order to start your workers’ compensation benefits in D.C. In fact, we don’t let our clients give recorded statements.<\/p>\n

Why does the workers’ compensation insurance adjuster want you to give a statement?<\/h4>\n

Here’s the deal – the insurance company adjuster has handled hundreds (if not thousands) of workers’ compensation claims in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. They know how to steer people hurt at work to file in the wrong state, go to an insurance company doctor, twist their words when giving a statement, or get information they can use to deny or delay your legitimate claim for workers’ compensation benefits…<\/p>\n

You’ve had one work injury, and it’s serious enough that you may need workers’ compensation benefits.<\/p>\n

Who knows more about the laws, practice, and procedures of workers’ compensation?<\/p>\n

The insurance adjuster’s job is to make money for the insurance company. <\/strong><\/h4>\n

It’s not to take care of you and your family.<\/p>\n

You’ve worked hard for everything you’ve gotten your whole life. Don’t let them take it away just because you don’t know the workers’ compensation law and systems (in addition to the D.C. Workers Compensation Act, there are 58 chapters of regulations that govern that statute, plus case law decisions interpreting it by both the Compensation Review Board (part of a D.C. agency) and the Washington D.C. Court of Appeals (the highest court in D.C.))<\/p>\n

You can bet the insurance company has training, seminars, and updates on the law, procedures, and policies in effect for D.C. workers’ compensation. Plus, they have an army of adjusters, lawyers, doctors, investigators, nurse case managers, and others working to reduce the amount they have to pay you for benefits and medical treatment.<\/p>\n

Who have you got?<\/p>\n

Get the attorney who literally wrote the book on D.C. Workers’ Compensation<\/h2>\n

If you depend on your income to feed your family and you can’t work because of an on-the-job injury, don’t take any chances against a workers’ compensation insurance company that has absolutely no duty to you (their duty is to make money for their shareholders).<\/p>\n

Here are some other things workers’ compensation insurance companies tell people who were injured at work that are wrong and can hurt your case, so watch out!:<\/p>\n