Why Hire a Lawyer?

Why hire a lawyer?

If you are a federal civilian employee who was injured while at work, you may be entitled to worker’s compensation benefits under the Federal Employees Compensation Act.

The worker’s compensation program is administered by the US Department of Labor. Unfortunately, this system is often difficult to navigate and does not favor employees.

The burden of proof to win a case is on the injured worker. If a federal worker has a successful case, it can cost the government significant money. The government does not enjoy spending money on an injured person who is not working.

What is at stake?

If an employee has a successful worker’s compensation case he may be entitled to:

  • money for lost wages, sometimes called wage loss benefits

  • the cost of medical care relating to the job injury;

  • a “schedule award” for a permanent job related injury;

  • death benefits for his/her dependents if the employee passes away from the job injury.

The Importance of Wage Loss Benefits

An injured employee may be disabled and out of work for months. He/she needs to have an income during that difficult time.

An injured worker who is receiving wage loss benefits does not have to exhaust his sick leave nor annual leave. Further, if he has a successful case, the employing agency should keep him in a Leave Without Pay status rather than marking him AWOL.