Teacher and School Employee Workers Compensation Attorney in Virginia

There are many people and occupations who contribute to a successful school and education system. These include:

Administration (Principals, Assistant Principals, and Secretaries)

Bus drivers

Cafeteria workers and attendants

Guidance counselors

Janitorial staff and custodians

School nurses

Teachers and teacher aides

Each of these occupations plays an important role in educating our children.

Workers Comp Benefits for Teachers and School Employees

Any teacher or school employee who suffers an injury by accident arising out of and in the course of the employment is covered under the Virginia Workers Compensation Act. Workers compensation is a no-fault system that provides a number of benefits, including:

Lifetime medical benefits for all treatment that is reasonable, necessary, authorized, and causally related to your work injuries.

Temporary total disability benefits for periods where you’re unable to work either because your doctor has taken you out of work completely or because the school district does not have light duty work available within your restrictions.

Permanent partial disability benefits for loss of use or function of a scheduled body part like the arm, leg, foot, or hand.

Vocational rehabilitation benefits such as retraining and job coaching.

You may also negotiate a full and final workers compensation settlement when you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI) or if compensability is in dispute.

Who Provides Workers Compensation Insurance to Schools?

Many Virginia school systems pool their risk and join together to self-insure their workers compensation claims We have helped teachers and school employees obtain workers’ comp benefits from insurance carriers such as VML Insurance Programs and Virginia Association of Counties (VaCorp), which are group self-insurance pools for local governments, schools, and authorities.

If you’re injured while working at a private school or educational facility then your employer may have coverage through a private insurance carrier.

Some of you may teach or work at schools who are self-insured by the Commonwealth of Virginia or by the city, county, or town they serve.

No matter the insurance coverage, we can help you if you’re hurt on the job.

Common Work-Related Accidents and Injuries Suffered by Teachers and School Employees

Teachers and school employees are exposed to many of the same risks as other occupations. They are often injured by:

Acts of violence (student assault or breaking up a fight)

A slip and fall in the parking lot, hallway, or gym

A trip or fall in the parking lot, hallway, or gym

Driving to other locations for field trips or athletic events

Exposure to dangerous chemicals or machinery while teaching a vocational skill (shop class or mechanic trainng)

Getting hit by an athlete during practice

Lifting a box of books or other school supplies

Participating in extracurricular activities including student-faculty fundraisers

School bus related accidents

Unique Workers Compensation Situations for Teachers and School Employees

Virginia workers compensation claims involving teachers and school employees are different from claims involving other types of workers. Here’s why:

Many schools have safety programs. Teachers and school employees may be required to participate in safety training and drills. This means the employer may defend your claim on the basis that you violated a safety rule.

Many schools provide medical care on-site. The school nurse may treat your injury when it first happens. But you’re also entitled to a panel of physicians and should seek further care. We recommend that you assert yourself and give yourself as many treatment options as possible.

School systems and universities may try to find you light duty work. We’ve seen schools offer teachers chairs or stools if they’re unable to stand for lengthy periods, ask other employees to help injured teachers lift and carry books, computers, and other equipment, and allow janitors and cafeteria attendants to do light cleaning for a temporary period. Make sure that the light duty offered does not exceed your treating physician’s work restrictions.

Union contracts. If you’re a member of a teachers’ union or labor union, ask an attorney to review your collective bargaining agreement (CBA) before agreeing to light duty.

Average weekly wage. Many school employees and teachers have summers and holidays off. Because of this employers and insurance carriers may try to negotiate a lower pre-injury average weekly wage. Don’t let this happen! The average weekly wage serves as the basis of the value your claim. The higher, the better the chance you’ll receive fair compensation for your work injuries.

Workers Comp Attorney for Teachers and School Employees in Virginia

We serve as workplace accident lawyer for school employees and teachers hurt on the job at:

Adult education centers

Colleges

Community colleges

Daycare centers

GED training courses

Specialty schools for the deaf and blind

Technical schools

Trade schools and apprenticeship program

We Help Injured Teachers and School Employees Who Work For or Belong To:

As a teacher workers compensation lawyer I represent educators and employees who work for the following school districts or belong to the following education trade unions:

Albemarle County Public Schools
Alexandria City Public Schools
Amelia County Public Schools
American Federation of Teachers
Appomattox County Public Schools
Arlington Public Schools
Association of Teachers and Lecturers
Association of University Teachers
Augusta County Public Schools
Bath County Public Schools
Botetourt County Public Schools
Buckingham County Public Schools
Buena Vista City Public Schools
Campbell County Public Schools
Caroline County Public Schools
Charles City County Public Schools
Charlotte County Public Schools
Charlottesville City Schools
Chesapeake Public Schools
Chesterfield County Public Schools
Colonial Beach Public Schools
Colonial Heights Public Schools
Communications Workers of America
Culpeper County Public Schools
Danville Public Schools
Dinwiddie County Public Schools
Essex County Public Schools
Fairfax County Public Schools
Federal Education Association
Fluvanna County Public Schools
Franklin City Public Schools
Franklin County Public Schools
Fredericksburg City Public Schools
Gloucester County Public Schools
Hampton City Schools
Hanover County Public Schools
Harrisonburg City Public Schools
Henrico County Public Schools
Hopewell Public Schools
Isle of Wight County Public Schools
King and Queen County Public Schools
King George County Schools
King William County Public Schools
Lancaster County Public Schools
Lexington City Schools
Loudoun County Public Schools
Louisa County Public Schools
Lunenburg County Public Schools
Lynchburg City Schools
Manassas City Public Schools
Mathews County Public Schools
Mecklenburg County Public Schools
Middlesex County Public Schools
National Association of Head Teachers
National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers
National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education
National Education Association
National Teachers Association
National Union of Teachers
New Kent County Public Schools
Newport News Public Schools
Norfolk Public Schools
Nottoway County Public Schools
Orange County Public Schools
Petersburg City Public Schools
Pittsylvania County Schools
Poquoson City Public Schools
Portsmouth Public Schools
Powhatan County Public Schools
Prince Edward County Public Schools
Prince George County Public Schools
Prince William County Public Schools
Rappahannock County Public Schools
Richmond Public Schools
Roanoke City Public Schools
Southampton County Public Schools
Spotsylvania County Public Schools
Stafford County Public Schools
Staunton City Schools
Suffolk City Public Schools
Surry County Public Schools
Sussex County Public Schools
Virginia Beach City Public Schools
Waynesboro Public Schools
West Point Public Schools
Westmoreland County Public Schools
Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools
Winchester Public Schools
UNITE Here
United Auto Workers
United Federation of Teachers
Virginia Education Association
York County School Division

Call, text, or email Corey Pollard today for help getting approved for workers comp in Virginia. We want to help you and your family during this difficult time. And we can even help you qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. As a Richmond disability lawyer and Social Security attorney in Virginia Beach, Corey Pollard has helped teachers and school employees prove they’re disabled and get the benefits and medical coverage they deserve.

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Corey Pollard

Managing Partner at Corey Pollard Law

Corey Pollard is a top-rated personal injury attorney focused on recovering monetary damages for injured workers and accident victims. He has secured over $50 million for clients in Virginia workers' compensation, Social Security disability, traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), product liability, and construction accident cases.

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