What Is Light Duty Work and Is My Employer Required to Provide It?

Light-duty work refers to temporary or permanent job duties that are physically or mentally less demanding than your regular position. Employers in Washington, DC are not required to provide light-duty work, but they may choose to do so. If light-duty work is offered and accepted, you will typically receive your regular wages instead of disability benefits.

What Should I Do If My Workers’ Compensation Claim Is Denied?

If your claim is denied, you may request an informal conference with the Office of Workers’ Compensation to attempt mediation. If the issue is not resolved, you have 14 days to request a formal hearing. A judge will issue a Compensation Order after the hearing. Additional appeals may be filed with the Compensation Review Board and, if necessary, the DC Court of Appeals. Benefits are not paid while the claim is actively disputed.

Can I Be Fired for Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Washington, DC?

No. Washington, DC law prohibits employers from firing or retaliating against employees for filing or attempting to file a workers’ compensation claim. Employers are also prohibited from retaliating against coworkers who testify in a workers’ compensation proceeding. Quitting a job before filing a claim may complicate the process and is generally discouraged.

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Are you having issues with your workers’ compensation benefits after a workplace accident? Our team of Washington, DC workers’ compensation lawyers is here to assist. With more than 40 years of experience in personal injury law, our attorneys have comprehensive knowledge of the DC Workers’ Compensation Act, the claims filing process, and the documentation you need to submit to successfully claim your compensation.

Our firm’s award-winning attorneys have extensive experience in securing favorable verdicts for our injured clients, from successful workers’ compensation claims to multi-million dollar settlements. With our three named partners Patrick Regan, Salvatore Zambri, and Victor Long holding board certification in Civil Trial Law and Civil Trial Advocacy, and our attorneys named to prestigious directories such as Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and the Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers list, we provide professional and comprehensive support for all of your workers’ compensation queries and claims.

If you were injured on the job, contact the personal injury attorneys at Regan Zambri Long today. We are available 24/7, and an attorney will call you back. With us, you don’t have to worry about making errors that could delay your settlement. There are also no fees charged unless we win.

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How Can a DC Workers’ Compensation Attorney Help My Case?

With nearly 200 years of combined experience to our name, our highly respected firm is well-positioned to address even the most challenging personal injury cases. Our strategic approach has translated into million-dollar recoveries for our clients. With over $1 billion in settlements won to date, our achievements include a $7.5 million premises liability action award for a client who suffered paraplegia injuries, and $1 million settlement on behalf of a worker who fell from a roof and sustained a traumatic brain injury. We have also assisted numerous clients with understanding the specifics of the workers’ compensation claims filing process, ensuring that they were able to claim the compensation they deserved.

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Car Accident Settlement

When a worker is injured in a workplace accident, many times they fail to tell their employer for fear that they will lose their jobs. But laws have been put in place to prevent that from happening. It is the responsibility of your employer to provide workers’ comp benefits for their employees if an accident occurs while that employee is on the job.

Our DC workers’ compensation lawyer can explain what benefits are available to you. If your workers’ compensation claim has been denied, we can help you through the process, ensuring your medical bills and wages are paid as you recover. We offer free consultations to all injured workers, and you will not pay a fee until the case has been settled.

What Is Workers Compensation?

Workers’ compensation is meant to protect employees if they get hurt or become ill while on the job. The benefits are meant to provide medical expenses and lost wages to the employees as they recover. For example, if you are a delivery driver and get into a car accident while delivering a package, you can file for workers’ compensation benefits to cover your medical expenses and for any time you miss work because of the injury.

In Washington, DC, any business that has one or more employees is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Since DC is a no-fault jurisdiction, an employee is covered by workers’ comp, no matter who is at fault for the injury.

Most employees are covered by DC workers’ compensation; however, there are few exceptions, such as:

Federal employees, who are covered under federal workers’ compensation programs
Independent contractors
Temporary employees
Domestic workers, unless they work more than 240 hours per quarter
Volunteers

What Injuries Are Covered Under Workers’ Compensation?

There are three types of injuries or illnesses which you can receive workers’ compensation benefits, as outlined by the DC Workers’ Compensation Act:

Physical injuries resulting from a work accident. These can range from a broken arm to amputation. It can also include repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Occupational diseases that develop from long-term exposure on the job, such as a healthcare worker who was exposed to an infectious disease.
Mental health issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder or anxiety, were caused by on-the-job trauma.

However, there are some instances when you cannot receive workers’ compensation:

You cannot receive workers’ compensation if you are commuting to work or on a break at the time of the accident.
If your injuries were self-inflicted or sustained during a fight at work that you started, you will not be able to apply for benefits.

What DC Workers’ Comp Benefits Can You Receive?

There are four types of workers’ compensation benefits that employees can receive after being hurt on the job: medical benefits, disability benefits, rehabilitation benefits, and death benefits.

Medical Benefits

Medical benefits are meant to cover any medical costs associated with your injuries following a workplace accident. This can include hospital stays, medications, medical equipment, and home care costs. If you travel for any medical treatment, such as going to Baltimore for a lab test, these costs can also be included in your workers’ comp benefits.

Disability Benefits

If you are unable to work because of your illness or injury, workers’ compensation offers disability benefits to the worker. There are four types of disability benefits:

Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): This option is available if you are partially disabled but are still able to work. For example, if you are unable to work your full-time job but are available for light-duty work, you will receive both temporary partial disability payments as well as what you’re being paid for the light-duty work.
Temporary Total Disability (TTD): If your doctor says you are unable to work until the injury is healed, you will receive temporary total disability payments. In order to receive TTD, you will need to be out of work for a period of time, usually three to seven days.
Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): If the worker’s earning capacity is affected, they may receive permanent partial disability. What this means is the worker received an injury that affects their ability to do their previous job, but they can return to full-time work.
Permanent Total Disability (PTD): If a workplace injury results in a worker being unable to work again, the employee can receive permanent total disability payments as well as lifetime medical care.
Disfigurement: If you have a serious disfigurement to your head, face, neck, or an exposed bodily area such as your arm, you can receive a compensation award of up to $7,500.

Rehabilitation Benefits

Much like medical benefits, rehabilitation benefits cover the cost of any rehabilitation services the employee receives. This includes physical therapy and other types of treatments to help the worker regain their health to where it was before the accident occurred.

Death Benefits

If a family member dies from an illness or injuries from a workplace accident, workers’ compensation benefits can provide death benefits to the dependents of the worker. Dependents include the closest members of the worker’s family including the spouse and children. These benefits can cover funeral and burial costs for up to $5,000.

In addition, families can receive up to 50% of the deceased worker’s average weekly wage, with a maximum benefit of $1,521.74 per week. There is no time limit on how long surviving family members can receive death benefits.

What is the Maximum Workers’ Compensation I Am Entitled To?

According to the DC Code § 32–1505, workers’ compensation for disability or death cannot exceed your weekly wages as an insured employee in Washington, DC, or a total of $396.78 per week, whichever amount is larger.

Legally, you may claim disability benefit payments for up to 500 weeks for any one injury that causes permanent or temporary partial disability. If you wish to extend these payments, you may petition the Mayor of the District of Columbia to have your benefits extended for up to 167 weeks. You will need to be examined by an independent medical examiner selected by the mayor, who will ensure that your disability is causing ongoing whole-body impairment of at least 20%, as per the American Medical Association’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment.

Under the Act, you are also granted up to three years after your non-scheduled benefits have ended to reopen your case should your condition change.

A skilled DC workers’ compensation lawyer at Regan Zambri Long can help you determine how much workers’ compensation you are entitled to and whether you are eligible for an extension of your benefits as well.

What Should I Do After I’m Injured at Work?

Your first step following an injury at work is to inform your supervisor or employer as soon as possible. Failure to let your employer know about your injury can result in a denial of your claim. In Washington, DC, you have 30 days to inform your employer about the accident.

Once you inform your employer, seek medical attention. Even if you don’t think you’re injured at that time, getting checked out by a medical professional will help your claim in the long run. A doctor will be able to certify your injury is work-related, determine whether you can return to work, and recommend any further treatment.

When you are able to, you will need to complete the Employee’s Notice of Accidental Injury or Occupational Disease application (OWC Form 7). The form will need to be filed to the Office of Workers’ Compensation within 30 days of the injury. Make sure you provide a copy to your employer.

You will also need to complete the Employee’s Claim Application (OWC Form 7A) and submit that to both your employer and the Office of Workers’ Compensation within one year of your accident.

What is a Third-Party Claim?

A third-party claim, also known as third-party liability, refers to any injury a worker receives because of the negligent actions of a third party, either an individual or business that is separate from your employer or place of employment.

Common examples of third parties include:

A manufacturer or designer of a product. For instance, your hand gets caught in a machine and crushes it. It is discovered that a defect caused the accident and the manufacturer knew about the defect before the machine went to market. In this case, you can file a third-party claim against the manufacturer for your injury.
Another driver. Let’s say you get into an accident with another driver while delivering packages for UPS. It is discovered that the other driver had been texting and was not paying attention at the time of the accident. You could file a car accident lawsuit against the at-fault driver for causing your accident.
An outside contractor. If another company or individual had installed something incorrectly which resulted in a workplace accident, they could be held responsible. An example of this type of third-party claim is a contractor installing a machine improperly or a mechanic failing to service a vehicle.
A property owner. For example, if you are a landscaper who is working on a homeowner’s yard and is attacked by the owner’s dog, you could have a premises liability claim with the owner.

It’s important to note that injured workers are unable to file a third-party claim against an employer or co-worker who may have caused the accident.

The difference between a third-party claim and a workers’ compensation claim is the burden of proof. Workers’ comp claims are no-fault, meaning that the worker can collect benefits even if they are at fault for the accident. But in a third-party claim, the worker will need to show that the individual or business is at fault for the accident.

To prove fault, the following conditions must be met:

The third party had a responsibility to keep the worker safe from harm,
The third party breached that responsibility,
The worker was injured as a result of the breach; and
The worker suffered damages due to the injury

If you believe you have a third-party claim for work-related injuries, our workers’ compensation lawyer in DC is ready to assist you with your claim.

Injured on the Job? Contact Workers Comp Attorney Regan Zambri Long

Our firm is passionate about protecting the rights of injured workers throughout Washington, DC. Our Washington DC workers’ compensation attorneys will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of your rights so that you can make well-informed decisions. We make ourselves available to our clients at all hours. At our firm, your workers’ comp matter will be treated as a top priority.

Regan Zambri Long’s many favorable achievements of our clients have earned us some of the legal industry’s most respected awards and accolades. Six of our partners have been featured in the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers list, and seven of our attorneys have been named to Super Lawyers, with partner Salvatore Zambri added to the list of Top 10 Super Lawyers in Washington, DC, and Zambri, Paul Cornoni, and Patrick Regan also named as Top 100 Super Lawyers in Washington, DC.

Our work has also been recognized by Best Lawyers, with seven of our lawyers selected, and our firm featured on Best Law Firms as well. Best Lawyers has also honored Patrick Regan as Lawyer of the Year for Mass Tort Litigation (2022 and 2024) and Medical Malpractice Law (2020), Salvatore Zambri as Lawyer of the Year for Product Liability Litigation (2020), and Paul Cornoni as Lawyer of the Year for Workers’ Compensation (2026).

Workers’ compensation laws are very complex, but our team of legal experts has the knowledge and expertise needed to simplify the filing process and secure your compensation. If you’re having trouble with your employer, get the help you need. Contact a skilled workers’ comp lawyer at Regan Zambri Long today for a free consultation.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Workers’ Compensation in Washington, DC

How Are My Workers’ Compensation Benefits Calculated?

It depends on the type of benefits you receive:

For medical benefits, there is no limit to how much can be spent. This means that any medical bills that stem from your accident will be covered. These benefits will last for as long as you need treatment for your injuries.
For disability payments, you will receive a weekly wage that equals two-thirds of your average weekly wage prior to your accident.
If it is determined that you are permanently disabled, you could receive a supplemental allowance on top of the existing weekly payments.

How Long Does it Take to Get Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Washington, DC?

Generally, it takes two to three weeks before you start receiving your benefits. During that time, you may be contacted by a claims administrator who will want an account of what happened and review your medical records. The administrator may also speak with other employees and supervisors to learn more about the accident.

What is Light Duty Work? Is My Employer Required to Provide It?

Light-duty work refers to work that is physically or mentally less demanding than your current job duties. It can be either temporary or permanent, depending on your injury. It gives the injured worker a chance to go back to work while healing from their injury.

It is up to your employer to either provide light-duty work for you or wait until you are healed. If your employer does offer light-duty work, you will receive your regular salary instead of relying solely on workers’ compensation benefits.

How Long Does Workers’ Compensation Last in Washington, DC?

Again, this depends on what type of benefits you are receiving. If you are receiving temporary partial or total disability payments, you will receive these benefits until the doctor allows you to return to work full-time. Temporary disability payments may also stop after 500 weeks, though it is possible to petition for an additional 167 weeks if needed.

If you received a permanent partial disability, the amount of time you receive compensation depends on the severity of your injury. For example, if you lost one of your legs, you may receive up to 288 weeks of benefits as opposed to only receiving 144 weeks for a 50% disability of your leg.

For permanent total disability, this will continue for the rest of the employee’s life, which is why it’s reserved for only severe instances. The benefits the worker will receive are two-thirds of the worker’s average weekly earnings.

Can I Sue My Employer for My Workplace Injury?

The short answer is no, you cannot file a lawsuit against the employer for your work accident. However, there are times when you can file a personal injury lawsuit against a third party whose negligence caused the accident. Known as a third-party claim, it allows the injured party to seek compensation for any pain and suffering caused by another individual or company. For example, if a machine operator lost their hand following a malfunction caused by a defect, the operator may be able to sue the manufacturer for the faulty machine.

When Are Workers’ Compensation Benefits Paid?

Once the insurance carrier and employer accept your claim, you will receive your first benefit payment within 14 working days. Benefits will continue every two weeks as long as you are medically disabled. Remember, only your physician can determine when you are healthy enough to return to work, not your employer or the insurance company.

What Do I Do if My Workers’ Compensation Claim is Denied?

If your claim is denied, your first step is to speak with an experienced Washington, DC workers’ compensation attorney. They can walk you through the appeals process and help you with your claim.

After the claim is denied, your attorney will request an informal conference with the Office of Workers’ Compensation (OWC). The agency will try to mediate the claim to settle. If a settlement cannot be reached, the worker has 14 days to file a Formal Hearing with the OWC. A judge will then issue a Compensation Order within 20 days of the hearing.

If you still having trouble with your claim, your attorney can file an Application for Review with the Compensation Review Board within 30 days. If there is still a dispute, you can appeal the decision to the D.C. Court of Appeals within 30 days.

Remember, if the claim is being disputed, you will not receive any benefits until it’s been resolved.

Can I Be Fired From My Job for Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim?

Many employees are afraid to file a workers’ comp claim for fear of retaliation. They falsely believe that their employer can fire them because they got into an accident at work. But this cannot happen. According to DC law, an employer cannot discharge or discriminate against any employee who filed or is attempting to file a workers’ compensation claim. In addition, if a co-worker is testifying about your injury during a workers’ compensation hearing, your employer cannot retaliate against that employee.

It’s also advisable not to quit your job before filing a workers’ compensation claim. Quitting before you file a claim can be difficult to prove the validity of your claim.

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