A job injury in Virginia can turn your life upside down in one day. You may worry about your paycheck, your health, and your family. You might not know what help the law gives you. This guide explains what you can claim after a work injury in Virginia. You learn what medical care you can get. You see how wage loss payments work. You also see when you can receive support for lasting harm or limits. You find out what happens if you cannot return to your old job. You also see what to do if your claim is denied. When you know your rights, you can protect your body, your income, and your future. If you need to act now, click here to learn how to start a claim and what to expect from workers’ compensation in Virginia.
Who Qualifies For Workers’ Compensation In Virginia
You qualify for workers’ compensation in Virginia if:
- You are an employee under Virginia law
- Your employer has at least three workers
- Your injury happened at work or while doing work tasks
- You report the injury to your boss as soon as you can
You do not need to prove fault. You only need to show that the job caused the injury. Some workers fall under special rules, so you can check basic coverage rules on the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission site at https://workcomp.virginia.gov.
Medical Care You Can Receive
Workers’ compensation pays for care that treats your work injury. You do not pay co-pays. The employer or its insurer pays approved bills.
Covered care can include:
- Emergency room visits
- Doctor visits and follow up care
- Hospital stays
- Surgery
- Physical or occupational therapy
- Prescription drugs
- Medical devices like braces or crutches
- Reasonable travel costs to and from treatment
In Virginia your employer often gives you a list of at least three doctors. You choose one from that list. That doctor becomes your treating doctor. That choice can affect your claim, so you need to choose with care.
Wage Loss Payments After You Miss Work
If you miss more than seven days of work because of your injury, you can receive wage loss payments. Virginia calls these indemnity benefits. The amount links to your average weekly wage before the injury.
You usually receive two thirds of your average weekly wage, up to a set cap that changes each year. The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission posts the yearly maximum rate at https://workcomp.virginia.gov/content/benefit-calculator.
Types Of Wage Benefits
Virginia workers can receive different wage benefits. Each type meets a different need.
| Type of benefit | When you may receive it | Typical payment level
|
|---|---|---|
| Temporary Total Disability (TTD) | You cannot work at all for a period of time | About two thirds of your pre injury average weekly wage |
| Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) | You return to work with reduced hours or light duty that cuts your pay | About two thirds of the gap between old pay and new pay |
| Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) | You have lasting loss of use of a body part listed in Virginia law | Lump sum or weekly pay based on a schedule of weeks for each body part |
| Permanent Total Disability (PTD) | You suffer very serious loss such as loss of both hands, both feet, or total blindness | Long term pay at about two thirds of your average weekly wage within legal limits |
Support For Lasting Harm Or Limits
Some injuries heal. Others leave you with lasting loss. Virginia law sets a schedule that lists body parts and weeks of pay for loss of use. For example loss of use of an arm or leg can bring a set number of weeks of PPD pay.
Your doctor gives a rating that shows how much function you lost in that body part. That rating and your wage history control the amount you receive. The process can feel tense because the rating affects your future income. You have the right to question a rating and to seek another medical opinion if the law allows it.
Help If You Cannot Return To Your Old Job
Sometimes you heal enough to work but not enough to return to your old job. You may need lighter tasks or fewer hours. In those cases you can receive:
- Light duty work if your employer can give it
- TPD benefits if you earn less than before
- Job search help through vocational services in some claims
If your employer offers suitable light duty work and you refuse without a strong reason, you risk losing wage benefits. You need to follow medical limits and keep written proof of your job search if you are looking for work.
Death Benefits For Families
If a worker dies because of a job injury, the law gives support to dependents. This support can include:
- Wage replacement for a set period based on the worker’s pay
- Payment for funeral and burial costs up to a legal cap
- Possible education support for some dependents under certain rules
These payments cannot heal the loss. They do offer money to keep a home steady during shock and grief.
What To Do If Your Claim Is Denied
Many workers see a denial at first. A denial does not mean you lose forever. You can:
- Read the denial letter and note the reasons
- Gather medical records, witness names, and any video or reports
- File a claim with the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission before deadlines
- Attend hearings and tell your story under oath
Time limits are strict. If you miss them, you can lose all rights under workers’ compensation. You need to act quickly after any denial or cut in benefits.
Three Steps To Protect Yourself After A Job Injury
You can protect your health and your claim by following three steps.
- Report your injury to your supervisor as soon as you can and in writing
- Seek medical care and follow all treatment plans and limits
- Keep copies of all forms, letters, and notes about your injury and missed work
A job injury brings fear and anger. You do not need to face it alone. You have rights under Virginia law that can give medical care, wage support, and help with lasting harm. You strengthen those rights every time you speak up, keep records, and ask clear questions about your benefits.