While you are recovering from an injury that occurred in the workplace, you may wonder whether or not you will receive the benefits you need from your workers' compensation claim and for how long you will receive benefits. 

At the Law Office of Charles L. Powell PLLC, our Vermont loss of wage attorney understands the challenges injured employees face in these circumstances and is prepared to fight to pursue recovery of the compensation injured employees need. 

I have 33 years of legal experience in personal injury litigation and know what it takes to stand up to the power of insurers.

Loss of Wage Attorneys in Vermont

Understanding Your Eligibility for Workers' Compensation

When you’ve been injured on the job, you need to know your rights. If your injury keeps you out of work for more than 3 calendar days, you are eligible to receive 2/3^rd of your gross weekly pay each week while you are out of work, continuing until you return to work or reach maximum improvement. You are also eligible to receive an extra $10 per week per dependent child.

Once your claim has been accepted, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company will provide you with continued weekly payment called “temporary total disability” benefits for your lost time on the job. There may come a time when the insurance company stops sending you the money you need.

There are multiple reasons why the insurance company may stop payment:

• The employee returned to work.
• The employee did not attend their independent medical exam (IME).
• The employee did not go back to work once released by their doctor.
• The employee did not conduct a job search after the doctor states it’s safe to do light duty.
• The employee falsifies facts regarding the case.
• The employee does not, within reason, provide a medical authorization.
• The employee has reached “maximum medical improvement” from the injury.

Can Workers' Compensation Payments Be Stopped Without Notice?

The insurance company cannot stop payment without having proper evidence of one or more of the above examples. 

Except when an employee has returned to work, the insurer cannot stop the weekly checks unless it first files written notice of its intention to stop (“discontinue”) payments. You can object and appeal.

Let Us Handle Your Workers' Compensation Claim

It is bad enough to be hurt, but to be forced to fight for what you need can take an even greater toll. Our Vermont loss of wage lawyer is ready to help. I have extensive litigation experience and know the workers’ compensation laws of Vermont.