Virginia Beach Workers Compensation Lawyer

Workers Comp Lawyer in Virginia Beach

Relentless Legal Representation for Injured Workers in Virginia Beach

Thousands of work injuries happen in Virginia Beach yearly.

If you are one of these injured workers in Virginia Beach, you may wonder what to do after a work accident leading to a catastrophic injury. Or what steps you can take to get the medical care you need and protect your family’s finances.

You don’t have to go through the workers comp claims process alone. Instead, focus on healing and hire a Virginia Beach workers compensation lawyer to help you get the wage loss payments and lifetime medical treatment you deserve.

This article explains how we help injured employees in Virginia Beach and across the Commonwealth fight back against insurance companies (Travelers, The Hartford, Liberty Mutual, etc.) and claim administrators (CorVel, Gallagher Bassett, Sedgwick CMS, etc.) to win their workers comp hearings and negotiate top-dollar lump sum settlements.

Keep reading for insider information about workers compensation claims in Virginia Beach.

And call me to learn more about Virginia workers comp laws: 757-810-5614.

Our Virginia Beach personal injury law firm is ready to fight for you and your family after a workplace injury.

A Look at Virginia Beach VA

Geographic and Economic Factors Affecting Workers Compensation Claims in Virginia Beach

Located on the Atlantic Ocean, Virginia Beach is the most populous city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with more than 450,000 people. 

It is part of the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area, which includes Norfolk, Newport News, Chesapeake, Hampton, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Williamsburg/James City County, Mathews County, York County, Gloucester County, Surry County, and Isle of Wight County.

Virginia Beach is a resort city. It has miles of beaches and hundreds of resorts, hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues. 

In addition, Virginia Beach has several military bases (Naval Air Station Oceana, Naval Air Base Little Creek, Joint Expeditionary Base – Fort Story), two universities (Virginia Wesleyan University and Regent University), a large agribusiness sector, and many industries. 

Communities in Virginia Beach

Central neighborhoods and communities in Virginia Beach include the following: 

• Alanton
• Aragona Village
• Bayside
• Cape Henry
• Chic’s Beach/Shore Dr.
• Croatan Beach
• Dam Neck
• Fort Story
• Great Neck
• Green Run
• Kempsville
• Little Neck
• Lynnhaven
• Oceana
• Oceanfront
• Pembroke Manor
• Princess Anne
• Pungo
• Sandbridge

Our Virginia Beach workers compensation attorneys handle injury and illness claims in every part of the city and every sector. 

Medical Providers in Virginia Beach

If you are hurt while working in Virginia Beach, you may get medical treatment with one of these healthcare providers:

• Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital: This hospital has 273 beds and is the area’s only Level III Trauma Center.

• Sentara Princess Anne Hospital: This facility has 174 beds and an accredited Primary Stroke Center.

• Sentara Independence

• Beach Health Clinic: This facility provides health care to uninsured residents in Virginia Beach. You may seek treatment here if the workers comp insurer denies your claim and you do not have private medical benefits insurance or Medicaid.

• Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists (Dr. Luke Balsamo, Dr. Mark Bewley, Dr. Timothy Budorick, Dr. Bradley Butkovich, Dr. Jennifer Byrd, Dr. William Byrd, Dr. Michael Campbell, Dr. Bradley Carofino, Dr. David Clifford, Dr. JoAnn Dervay, Dr. Lawrence Donato, Dr. Wilford Gibson, Dr. Samuel Kline, Dr. Chad Manke, Dr. Blake Moore, Dr. Raymond Payne, Dr. Nima Rezaie, Dr. James Sanderlin, Dr. Charles Shuff, Dr. Jonathan Strand, and Dr. Paul Warren).

• Jordan-Young Institute: This is an orthopedic and neurosurgical practice whose physicians include: Dr. Kevin Bonner, Dr. James Dowd, Dr. Joseph Gondusky, Dr. Justin Griff, Dr. Louis Jordan, Dr. Nicholas Midis, Dr. Samuel Robinson, Dr. Jack Siegel, Dr. Joel Stewart, Dr. Jeffrey Laurent, Dr. David Vincent, Dr. Parker Babington, Dr. Scott Horn, Dr. David Levi, and Dr. Lauren Mock. Some of these doctors are physiatrists focused on treating chronic pain. In addition, the Jordan-Young Institute offers physical therapy services.

• OrthoVirginia (Dr. Edward Lambert, Dr. Peter Jacobsen, Dr. John Duerden, Dr. R. Brick Campbell, Dr. Kevin Pinkos, Dr. Christopher Ellington, Dr. Wayne Chen, Dr. Victor Tseng, and Dr. Patrick O’Connell).

Major Employers in Virginia Beach

We handle Virginia Beach workers compensation claims against employers of all sizes, including companies such as the following:

• GEICO General Insurance Company (an auto insurance carrier)
• STIHL Incorporated (a power tools manufacturer)
• Lynnhaven Mall
• Gold Key/PHR Hotels & Resorts
• Navy Exchange Service Command
• Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay
• Engility Corp.
• LoanCare Servicing Center Inc.
• The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc.
• LifeNet Health
• Harmony Investments Inc.
• DOMA Technologies
• Lockheed Martin Corporation
• Huntington Ingalls Industries
• ECPI University
• SAIC
• The Penrod Co.
• Architectural Graphics, Inc.
• ADS Tactical, Inc.
• Electronic Systems, Inc. (Xerox)
• Liberty Tax Services
• S.B. Ballard Construction Company
• Amazon Fulfillment Center
• AMSEC
• Atlantic Dental Care
• Anthem
• Atlantic Diving Supply Inc
• Century Concrete Inc.
• Checkered Flag
• City of Virginia Beach
• City of Virginia Beach Schools
• Food Lion
• Gretna Health Care Center
• Hall Automotive LLC
• Hampton Roads Sanitation
• Harris Teeter
• Home Care Assistance
• Integrity Staffing Services
• Kinetix Staffing and Recruiting
• Kroger
• Lifenet
• Lowes’ Home Centers, Inc.
• McDonald’s
• Onsite Engineering & Mana Inc
• Petrochem Recovery Svc.
• Professional Hospitality
• Q.E.D. Systems, Inc.
• Reliance Staffing
• Sentara Healthcare
• Starbucks Coffee
• Target Corp
• The Home Depot
• Tidewater Community College
• Towne Bank
• U.P.S.
• Valkyrie Enterprises
• VT Services Inc
• Wal Mart
• WaWa
• Wegmans

Workers Comp Cases in Virginia Beach

The rest of this article gives an overview of what to expect if you have a workers comp claim in Virginia Beach.

What is a Workers Compensation Claim?

Workers comp is insurance that provides cash benefits for total and partial disability and medical treatment if you get hurt at work or are diagnosed with an occupational illness.

When you file a workers comp claim, you seek the benefits provided under the Virginia Workers Compensation Act.

You have two years from the accident date to submit a formal claim to the Workers Compensation Commission (called the statute of limitations). However, you must tell the employer about the occupational injury within 30 days or you may forfeit the right to benefits.

What Injuries Does Virginia Workers Compensation Cover?

The law requires nearly all Virginia Beach employers to purchase and carry workers compensation insurance to cover occupational injuries and illnesses. Indeed, roughly 97 percent of Virginia employees fall under workers comp’s umbrella.

However, you are not automatically eligible for workers comp benefits if you get hurt while working in Virginia Beach. You must still satisfy at least three elements by a preponderance of the evidence to prove legal and medical causation and get a Workers Compensation Award Letter:

• (a) an injury by accident
• (b) arising out of a specific risk of the employment
• (c) while in the course of work

In addition, to qualify for temporary total disability or temporary partial disability benefits, you may need a doctor’s disability letter and proof of marketing (a job search).

What are the Available Benefits for Covered Injuries?

The Act provides many types of workers compensation benefits for injured employees in Virginia Beach.

Depending on your work status and whether you have a permanent impairment, you may qualify for one (or more) of the following:

• Income Replacement: You can receive up to two-thirds of your pre-injury average weekly wage or the difference between your full-time and light-duty wages (subject to the maximum and minimum comp rates in effect).

• Medical Treatment: Your award covers hospitalizations, emergency medical services, doctors’ appointments, medication, palliative care (chiropractic treatment, acupuncture), home and vehicle modifications, surgeries (including spinal fusion), orthotics, and prosthetics.

• An authorized treating physician will manage your work injury care and refer you to specialists as needed.

• Mileage Reimbursement and Transportation: You will receive reimbursement for mileage to and from medical appointments. Or, if you need a ride, the insurance company must provide transportation.

• Permanent Partial Disability: If you suffer an amputation injury, the loss of use of the injured body part, or if you have a scar or disfigurement, you can receive extra compensation regardless of work status. Generally, you become eligible for this benefit when you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI) for occupational injury.

• Vocational Rehabilitation: The insurance carrier may have to pay for job training or classes if you cannot return to your pre-injury job. Usually, the insurer starts vocational rehabilitation services if your functional capacity evaluation (FCE) says you cannot perform the job you had before the work accident.

• Death Benefits: These payments are available to dependent spouses and children after a fatal work injury in Virginia Beach.

Our Virginia Beach workers compensation lawyers have helped injured employees like you recover these benefits, even when the insurer initially denies the claim, and negotiate workers comp settlements providing financial security.

Types of Workers Comp Claims We Handle in Virginia Beach

Work injuries can happen at any time. 

Here are some of the most common occupational accidents and injuries our workers compensation lawyers handle in Virginia Beach:

• Back Injuries
• Burn Injuries
• Construction Accidents
• Defective Machinery Injuries (including product liability claims)
  
• Factory Work Accidents
• Falls from Heights (including ladders, roofs, and cranes)
• Fires or Explosions
• Forklift Accidents
• Head Trauma (including concussions, traumatic brain injury, and post-concussion syndrome)
• Heavy Equipment Accidents
• Highway Work Zone Accidents
• Industrial Accidents
• Rotator Cuff Tears
• Spinal Cord Injuries (resulting in nerve damage or paralysis)
• Slip and Fall Accidents
• Toxic Chemical Exposure
• Truck Accidents
• Workplace Violence (including assaults by patients, coworkers, and students against teachers)
• Work-Related Car Crashes

Workers Comp Hearing Locations for Virginia Beach Work Accidents and Occupational Diseases

Virginia Beach is home to one of the Virginia Workers Compensation Commission’s regional headquarters. Located near the Virginia Beach Town Center, this office’s address is:

VWC Virginia Beach Regional Office

281 Independence Boulevard

Suite 310

Virginia Beach, VA 23462

Telephone: (757) 552-1117

Fax: (757) 552-1114

In addition to handling claims arising from workplace injuries and occupational illnesses in Virginia Beach, this regional office handles workers comp claims in Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Portsmouth.

Workers Compensation Judges Handling Virginia Beach Hearings

Three deputy commissioners preside over Virginia Beach workers compensation claims:

• Lynne M. Ferris (Tel: 757-648-7111)
• Terry Jenkins (Tel: 757-648-7109)
• Lee E. Wilder (Tel: 757-648-7108)

Deputy Commissioners Ferris and Jenkins handle most in-person workers compensation hearings in Virginia Beach because Deputy Commissioner Wilder conducts hearings in satellite locations such as Hampton and Franklin City.

In addition, Deputy Commissioners Ferris and Jenkins are Virginia Certified Mediators handling workers compensation mediation and settlement conferences.

How Can a Virginia Beach Workers Compensation Lawyer Help Me?

Hiring a workers comp attorney in Virginia Beach helps you in several ways, such as the following:

• Selecting the most claimant-friendly doctor from the list offered by the insurance company

• Working with your physicians to get the evidence needed to continue treatment until you reach MMI.

• File the initial claim, change-in-condition applications, and appropriate paperwork to resolve disputes efficiently.

• Get your medical records to prove entitlement to benefits

• Use pretrial discovery to determine if you have a third party lawsuit against the negligent party (common in construction and motor vehicle accident cases in Virginia Beach)

• Defend you at deposition and during written discovery (including objecting to interrogatories from the insurance company)

• Represent you at trial.

• Write pre-mediation statements, trial briefs, and position statements to win your case.

• Negotiate a reasonable settlement (including calculating a first offer that provides leverage)

• Determine if you qualify for Social Security Disability, Long Term Disability, or Virginia Retirement System (VRS) benefits because of the occupational injury or illness and other health conditions you deal with. We handle many disability claims in Virginia Beach, including applications for disabled military veterans.

• And more

We handle these parts of the workers compensation claim process while you heal.

So, call us to see why your neighbors, coworkers, and family members selected me to serve as their Virginia Beach workers compensation attorney.

Get One of the Best Virginia Beach Workers Compensation Lawyers to Protect You and Your Family

Our law firm understands the complexities and nuances of the workers compensation system.

And we know that even when the insurance company or claim administrator starts off doing the right things, they may suddenly stop your workers comp benefits, putting you and your family in a bind.

As your Virginia Beach workers compensation lawyer, we will do everything possible to put you in the strongest position to get the cash and medical benefits available and negotiate a reasonable settlement for your work injury.

All you have to do is call 757-810-5614 to start.