If you are a business owner with employees and business is a little slow, is it ok to hold off obtaining or paying that bill for workers’ compensation insurance?

No!  Even if you are not a high risk business or have good safety practices, job related injuries to employees happen and can have devastating effects on your business and you personally.   Injured workers of uninsured employers may be eligible to have their lost wages, medical bills and other benefits paid by a state agency.  The state will seek reimbursement from the uninsured employer however, including fines and penalties. Under certain circumstances, being a corporation or an LLC will not protect you from individual liability.  Furthermore, the process often involves one or more hearings before the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission.

When you are insured, your insurance company will provide you with legal representation.  If you are an uninsured employer, however, and a claim is filed against you and/or your business, you need to hire your own legal counsel.  A workers’ compensation claim can be complex and requires an understanding of the law and how Maryland applies it. An experienced workers’ compensation lawyer is necessary to help you minimize your exposure. The attorneys at Hillman, Brown & Darrow P.A. have representing injured workers for over 30 years and have also represented uninsured employers before the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission.  Do not hesitate to contact one of our Annapolis attorneys if you find yourself in this predicament.