Covered Injuries
- What types of injuries are covered by workers’ compensation?
- Am I covered for a non-work related medical condition that got worse because of a work injury?
- Does workers’ compensation only cover me for injuries that occur at my workplace?
- Am I covered for injuries that occur while coming to work or leaving work after my shift?
- I’ve been overusing my left hand since I injured my right hand at work. Now, my left hand is bothering me. Is that covered by workers’ compensation?
Benefits
- What benefits are available under workers’ compensation?
- How long do I have to be disabled from work to be entitled to a compensation check?
- How is my weekly compensation rate calculated?
- Is the amount of weekly compensation the same for total disability and partial disability?
- How is it determined if I am totally disabled or partially disabled?
- My injury is partially disabling but I can’t get a job because of my personal background. Does this allow me to be on workers compensation for total disability?
- How long will my benefits last?
- Can my benefits be reduced?
- Can I work while receiving weekly benefits?
- Can my spouse receive benefits if I die as a result of my injury?
- Do I have to be disabled from work to be entitled to payment for scarring or loss of use?
Medical Care
- I just got hurt at work and my employer told me that I have to go to their doctor. Can’t I choose my own doctor?
- Can I switch doctors?
- What can I do if the insurance company doesn’t authorize medical treatment that my doctor prescribed?
- Am I required to have surgery if it’s recommended by my doctor?
- I’m having a hard time dealing with my injury and being out of work. Am I allowed to go to a mental health therapist?
Independent Medical Exams
- I received a notice from the insurance company for an independent medical examination (IME). Do I have to go?
- Why is the insurance company sending me to an IME?
- What will the insurance company do with the results of the IME?
Light Duty Work/Suitable Alternative Employment
- I received a letter from my employer offering me a light duty job. The letter uses the words "suitable alternative employment". What does that mean? Do I have to take the job?
- Do I have to take a "suitable alternative employment" job even if my doctor says that I can’t do the job or I don’t think I can do the job?
- Do I have the right to refuse a "suitable alternative employment" job if it pays me less than what I was making before I got hurt?
- What happens if I’m laid off while working at "suitable alternative employment"?
- I got a phone call from my boss offering me a light duty job. Do I have to take the job?
- I returned to light duty work after getting a phone call from my employer offering me the job. Does this mean that I’m working "suitable alternative employment"?
Pain and Suffering/Third Party Claims
- Can I collect for my pain and suffering under workers’ compensation?
- Can I make a negligence claim against anyone else besides my employer?
- Do I have to repay what I received in workers’ compensation from my negligence claim?
Social Security Disability and Other Benefits
- What is Social Security Disability?
- How does Social Security determine if I am disabled and entitled to benefits?
- Can I collect Social Security Disability benefits and workers’ compensation at the same time?
- My application for Social Security Disability was denied. What do I do now?
- How do I pay my attorney in appealing for benefits?
- What will happen to my Social Security Disability benefit if I settle my workers’ compensation case?
- What other benefits might be available to me in addition to workers’ compensation?
- Can I collect TDI and workers’ compensation?
- Can I collect TDI while I’m waiting for workers’ compensation to start?
- Can I collect unemployment benefits?
Miscellaneous Questions
- Who pays workers’ compensation benefits?
- Can the insurance company stop my checks whenever they want?
- What happens to my claim if my employer goes out of business?
- What happens to my claim if I return to work for another employer?
- What if I have a new injury with my new employer or my work there aggravates my old injury?
- I think I’m being followed. Is this legal?
- Can I move out of state while I’m receiving benefits?
- Do I have to meet with a nurse case manager that was assigned to me by the insurance company?
- Does my employer have to cover my health insurance while I’m on comp?
- Can I be fired while I’m collecting workers’ compensation?
- Am I entitled to return to work for my employer?
I'm Attorney Gary Levine. For over twenty years my law practice has focused only on 
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