Legal Question in Workers Comp in Virginia
Hearing with Worker's Compensation Commission
Our company had a casual day laborer working for us who fell from our shed (8 feet high). No one saw him fall, but he claims he feel and hurt himself. He waited 2 weeks to see a doctor, who initally said there was nothing wrong with him. He later saw another doctor, and he performed surgery on his wrist becuase it was sprained. His lawyer is now requesting that we pay for all his medical bills, temporary total disability, & permanent partial disability. Even though we didn't have worker's compensation becuase we don't have more than 3 employees, and he was a casual worker, we gave him money becuase we felt sorry for him becuase he was a friend of the family. We now have a hearing with the compensation commission, and i don't know what will happen. Can anyone assist me?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Hearing with Worker's Compensation Commission
It was probably a mistake for you to have given this "casual employee" money to take care of what might be a dubious injury which in fact may never have actually occurred. (Your giving of the money might arguably be interpreted as an admission of responsibility of sorts for the alleged accident.)
You would be well advised to get an attorney who can competently(and aggressively) represent you
before the Commission. Otherwise, you could end up with a big bill from what might be a scam in the event that the Commission should rule against you.