If you suffered an injury on the job in Richmond, you should be aware of your rights and responsibilities. You have the right to recover workers’ compensation benefits according to the laws in Virginia, but you also have the duty to notify your employer. What if your employer fires you after your injury? Before anything else, meet the attorneys of Injured Workers Law Firm to understand your legal options. Here are other details that need your attention.
- Retaliation cannot be a reason to fire you: If you filed a workers’ compensation claim and your employer decides to terminate your contract for that, you can take legal action. These lawsuits allow you to recover damages, including the cost of hiring an attorney. Workers’ compensation doesn’t get involved in such situations, which means you have to get legal assistance from a lawyer specializing in labor and employment law.
- Testing positive for a drug test: What if you were fired because you tested positive for alcohol or drugs? In such situations, your employer can fire you for that reason, but you may still qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. Your lawyer will check whether the use of drugs or alcohol caused the accident.
- Fired after the doctor asked you to rest: If your doctor says you cannot go to work because of injuries and your employer fires you for not joining back, you may have legal options. The workers’ compensation system doesn’t protect your job, but you could continue to get the benefits when your doctor has assigned light work.
Get an attorney soon
Workers’ compensation is immensely helpful for those injured at work, but certain circumstances are beyond control. If you don’t understand the complex legal process or believe that your employer hasn’t treated you fairly, you deserve to know what to do next. Workers’ compensation attorneys fight for injured workers and ensure they don’t settle for less. Retaliation or being fired from your job for filing a claim shouldn’t be taken lightly. Fortunately, you don’t have to pay a hefty fee to engage an attorney. Instead, your lawyer will work on contingency and get a share of the workers’ compensation benefits you get. If you are suing your employer for retaliation, your lawyer can still consider the same arrangement.
Don’t ignore your rights or act when you are unaware of the workers’ compensation system – Hire an attorney to educate and guide you further on the right steps.
