Maryland state law entitles injured workers to payments for their related medical expenses and a portion of their lost wages. These benefits are paid through an employer’s workers’ compensation insurance coverage, which virtually every employer in our state is required to carry and maintain.

But what happens when an employer or company is less than pleased that an injured worker decided to file a workers’ compensation claim? Unfortunately, it is not unheard of for an employer to terminate a worker who was simply trying to secure benefits for their injuries and lost wages.

If you’re hesitant to pursue benefits because you’re worried about being fired for filing a workers’ compensation claim, the attorneys at Belsky & Horowitz, LLC want to assure you of your legal rights to workers’ comp benefits—you cannot be fired for filing a workers’ compensation claim.

When debt becomes overwhelming, there is sometimes no way out on your own. Bankruptcy throws a legal lifesaver to those drowning under unpayable bills and expenses. A clean slate and a fresh start is often the best way for a person to reorganize financially and reestablish a sense of economic security in their life.

But what do bankruptcies cover? There are actually multiple different types of bankruptcy that cover different things. There are two common types of bankruptcy that most people facing debt due to medical bills, job loss, divorce, and other financially-binding situations file. Those are known as Chapter 7 bankruptcy and Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

Many workers head into work each day, not giving the thought that they may suffer an injury on the job a second thought. The reason many employees do is because they’re well aware that Maryland law requires most employers to purchase and maintain active workers’ compensation insurance to pay for their job-related injuries or illnesses.

While workers’ comp can provide workers with a way to receive compensated medical care, just like any insurance coverage, there’s no guarantee that an insurer will pay on the claim submitted to them, or at the very least, pay the full amount of the bill. Below, we’ll highlight some of the many tactics insurers use to devalue or deny workers’ comp claims so that you can be on the lookout for them if you find yourself in the unfortunate situation where you need to seek compensated care here in Baltimore.

If you were injured at work, then your need for workers’ compensation benefits is likely abundantly clear to you. That clarity may not be shared by your employer, though. Many Baltimore employers and their insurers actively work to deny liability for work-related injuries, limiting the rights of victims to access benefits for their lost wages and medical care.

As an injured worker, you deserve better. Oftentimes, the most effective way to ensure your rights are respected and upheld is to secure the legal representation of a workers’ comp attorney. If you’re still wondering whether you need an attorney for a workers’ compensation claim in Maryland, we hope that the following blog will provide the information you need to make a thoughtful decision.

When someone owns a property in Maryland, the law requires them to keep those premises safe for people who live and visit. That includes things like maintaining walking areas and keeping the premises safe from fall hazards. But it also means protecting against foreseeable crime.

So what is negligent security? Negligent security means that a crime could have been prevented (or at least made less likely) if adequate security measures had been in place. It means there was a failure to prevent foreseeable criminal conduct from happening on the property.

The cost of higher education has been rapidly outpacing earning potential for at least 30 years. Since the 1991-92 school year, tuition at a four-year public college has ballooned from an average of $4,160 per year to $10,740—a price point that is out of reach for the average student and their family.

This rapid acceleration in college tuition has led to a growing financial crisis. Parents are increasingly taking on this debt for their children, too, with the average parent student loan balance averaging $35,000 in the 2018-19 school year. Altogether, approximately 44 million people in America are carrying a combined $1.7 trillion in student loan debt.

There are at least 3 million workers in the state of Maryland. Of those, an estimated 3% of them suffer occupational illnesses or work-related injuries annually, according to the Maryland Department of Health.

Maryland law requires most employers to have workers’ compensation insurance coverage to cover the medical bills, a portion of the lost wages, and other expenses their employee incurs if they get hurt or fall ill on the job. However, not all workers are eligible for these benefits.

This is just one of Maryland’s many workers’ compensation laws that can be beneficial for you to know about. Some others are included below.

The job of a treating physician in a workers’ compensation case is to diagnose your condition and provide a suitable treatment plan. It seems straightforward—like any other case of injury or illness a doctor handles.

But things can be much more complicated than they seem. Doctors handling workers’ compensation cases have to consider much more than just your physical condition.

As such, choosing a physician in your workers’ comp case is an important task. You need someone who is not just a top-notch medical care provider but who will also be your advocate when the insurance company tries to take away your right to fair compensation.

Insurance companies, workers’ compensation ones included, are in the money-making business. Their goal is to profit from collecting insurance premiums, not incur further debt.

Maryland workers’ comp insurance providers pursue a debt recovery process called subrogation whenever possible to minimize or eliminate their losses. Below, we’ll provide a more in-depth explanation of what the subrogation process entails and who it impacts the most.

It can be terrifying to realize that you have more debt than you can handle, but even more terrifying for some people is the uncertainty of bankruptcy. Will they ever recover financially? Will their credit scores be forever impacted? Will all their debt be handled?

This process shouldn’t be a mystery. At Belsky & Horowitz, LLC, we want you to be fully informed of all your options and what they entail. With that in mind, let’s look at what happens after you file for bankruptcy in Maryland.