If you were hurt at work on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, you may be eligible for Workers’ Comp benefits that help with your medical care and part of your lost wages. Pathfinder Injury Law has an office in Chincoteague and takes clients across Accomack and Northampton counties.
Work on the Shore can be hard on the body. Poultry and seafood processing, farming and aquaculture, construction, and seasonal tourism and hospitality jobs all carry real risks of injury. When you are hurt, the questions come fast. Who pays for your treatment? What happens to your paycheck? What do you do if the insurance company says no?
Our team can walk you through the claim process, starting with a free consultation, so you can focus on getting better.
Workers’ Comp for Eastern Shore Employees
Virtually all employers with three or more employees regularly in service in Virginia are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. If you are not sure whether your employer has to carry coverage, or whether your job is covered, call us and we will help you find out.
Farm and horticultural workers, such as nursery and greenhouse workers, are covered by Workers’ Comp only if the employer regularly has more than three full-time employees. If you work on a farm or for a company that processes what farms produce, the details of your job matter. Tell us what you do and who pays you, and we can help you understand where you stand.
You may still be able to file a Workers’ Comp claim regardless of your immigration status.
Common Work Injuries on the Eastern Shore
Some examples of work injuries:
- Slips and falls on wet or slippery floors
- Injuries from machinery, knives, or conveyors
- Cuts and burns
- Back, shoulder, and neck injuries from lifting heavy loads
- Broken bones and crush injuries
- Falls from ladders, roofs, or scaffolding
- Vehicle accidents while driving for work
Learn more about factory accidents, construction accidents, work vehicle accidents, and back injuries.
What to Do After a Work Injury on the Eastern Shore
- Tell your employer. The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act requires you to give notice to your employer within thirty days of the accident, although exceptions exist. It is best to give notice in writing.
- Get medical care. Tell every doctor, nurse, or clinic that your injury happened at work.
- Document what happened. If you can, take photos of where the accident happened and of your injuries, and write down everything you remember.
- Watch the filing deadline. Your claim must be on file with the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission within two years of your date of accident, although exceptions apply.
If Your Workers’ Comp Claim Is Denied
If your claim is denied, you have the right to dispute that decision and take your claim to a hearing before the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission. A lawyer can help you review the reason for the denial and prepare for a hearing. Learn more about appealing a denial.
Our Chincoteague Office and Video Consultations
Our Chincoteague office is at 6294 Cropper Street, Chincoteague, VA 23336. It is open by appointment only, and video consultations are available, so you can talk with our team from home. See all of our locations.
Call a Workers’ Comp Lawyer on the Eastern Shore
We offer a free consultation to answer your questions. The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission must approve all attorney fees in Workers’ Comp cases. We are generally paid on contingency, meaning we collect attorney fees from the benefits we obtain for our clients. Costs we advance are subject to reimbursement from the client.
We take clients from across the Eastern Shore of Virginia, including Chincoteague, Accomac, Onancock, Parksley, Wachapreague, Onley, Melfa, Exmore, Nassawadox, Cape Charles, and Eastville.
To talk with our team, call 804-505-0633 or fill out the form below.
