Nursing and Medical Assistant Workers' Compensation Lawyer

We Fight for the Compensation You Deserve

Nursing and medical assistants face some of the toughest working conditions in healthcare, often lifting, treating, and caring for others until injury stops them from doing what they love. Regan Zambri Long’s Washington, DC workers’ compensation lawyers fight to protect those who protect others. With nearly 200 years of combined experience, and over $1 billion in recoveries, our board-certified team has secured justice for countless injured workers across the District.

One of our award-winning partners is recognized as Washington, DC’s top nurse attorney, and another has been named Lawyer of the Year for workers’ compensation. Their deep knowledge of occupational health law, medical workplace safety, and benefit entitlements gives our clients a powerful advantage when navigating complex injury claims and employer disputes. Backed by over 100 5 star Google reviews, we front all costs and retain expert witnesses to secure full medical, wage, and disability benefits for injured healthcare professionals.

Have you been injured in a Washington, DC workplace incident? Contact Regan Zambri Long today, and one of our attorneys will call you back personally. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there’s no fee unless we win your case.

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With more than 100 years of combined experience, the personal injury lawyers at Regan Zambri Long PLLC will fight for your rights. Having legal counsel on your side allows you to concentrate on your health with the confidence that your attorney is protecting your best interests.

 

What Is Workers’ Compensation?

Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance that pays workers who are injured on the job. Washington DC law states that all employers must obtain this coverage, much like an insurance policy, when they open their business. It outlines how the worker can obtain the benefits and the conditions under which the injured worker can collect the benefits.

 

Workers compensation is designed to protect both the employer and the employee in the event of a workplace injury. Employees who suffer work injuries are covered by their employers’ workers’ compensation policy. They are paid money to cover the costs of medical treatment and lost wages associated with their injuries. In return, the employee waives all rights to sue their employer because of the injury.

 

The benefits you can collect under workers’ compensation are:

 

  • Medical expenses such as hospital bills
  • Lost wages or lost income
  • Vocational rehabilitation costs
  • Permanent disability benefits
  • Death benefits

How Do I File a Nursing or Medical Assistant Workers’ Compensation Claim in Washington, DC?

woman injure with bandaged arm signing insurance papers

There are several steps the employee has to take in order to file a successful workers’ compensation claim. With a Regan Zambri Long workers’ compensation attorney by your side, you will have the benefit of a legal expert making sure all the deadlines are met and the paperwork is filled out correctly.

 

The workers compensation process to file a claim for a workplace injury as a medical or nursing assistant in Washington DC is:

 

  • Report your injury to your employer within 30 days: If the injury is not reported within that window, you may forfeit the opportunity to file a workers’ compensation claim.
  • You should seek medical care for your injury as soon as it occurs. If you wait to seek medical care, your employer can use that as grounds for denial of the claim.
  • You must report, in writing, your injury or illness to the Office of Workers’ Compensation within 30 days of the injury or becoming aware of your illness.
  • You must complete the DCWC Form 7, which acts as a formal notice of your injury or illness. Once completed, the form should be sent to your employer and to the Office of Workers’ Compensation.
  • Make sure to keep a copy of this form for your records, including the date you filed. If there is any question of when you filed the claim, your lawyer will use this documentation to prove you filed the claim on time.
  • Fill out the DCWC Form 7A within one year of the injury, illness, or death of the employee.

Am I Eligible for Workers’ Compensation as a Nursing or Medical Assistant in Washington, DC?

There are three requirements nursing and medical assistants need to meet in order to receive workers’ compensation in Washington DC:

You must be a regular employee in the private sector

If you are an independent contractor, a gig worker, a consultant, volunteer, or other form of “casual” employee, you may not be eligible for benefits.

Your employer must obtain workers’ compensation coverage

DC law states that most employers must obtain workers’ compensation insurance when they first open their business. In fact, if they do not carry workers’ comp coverage, a business can be fined up to $10,000. However, if you are an employee of the government, a railroad company, a maritime company, or a real estate firm that pays on commission, your employers may be exempt from carrying workers’ compensation coverage.

Your injury or illness must be work-related

In order to qualify for benefits, the injury or illness you sustained must have taken place at work or while you were performing the duties related to your job.

Another twist in receiving workers’ compensation benefits is the “going and coming” rule. This rule states that your commute to work and your actual work duties are separate. Therefore, if you were injured traveling to or from work, you will not be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits. The exceptions to this rule are:

  • If you are being paid to travel for work.
  • If you are being paid during your hours of travel to and from work.
  • If you are driving a company car to and from work.

The Regan Zambri Long nursing and medical assistant workers’ compensation attorneys are deeply knowledgeable in workers’ comp laws and can guide you through the claims process. They will work to prove the cause of your workplace injury is directly related to your duties and that the injury or illness occurred on the clock. Call today for a free consultation to get your claim started.

What Are the Most Common Injuries Among Nursing and Medical Assistants in Washington, DC?

Nursing and medical assistants have extremely physically demanding jobs that require endurance, strength, and health. Despite the growing need for medical professionals, nurses suffer more injuries than construction workers. The most common types of injuries we see with nursing and medical assistants are:

  • Overexertion injuries: These injuries are a result from repeating the same motion every day, such as lifting patients, bending over, and handling equipment. Repetitive motion injuries and musculoskeletal disorders and back injuries are very common from overexertion.
  • Head injuriesSlip and fall accidents are fairly typical in hospital and nursing home settings. Concussions and traumatic brain injuries can be the result of a nursing or medical assistant falling on the job while tending to patients.
  • Needle sticks: Needle stick injuries most often occur in hospital settings, though they are on the rise in other medical facilities. Nurses who come in contact with needles run the risk of being pricked with a contaminated needle and are most common during the disposal of the needle.
  • Violence: Nurses, especially when working with patients who have cognitive disorders or are drug addicted, may suffer violence at the hands of their patients. Violence can range from pulled hair, bites, scratches, and skin breaks. Between 2012 and 2014, workplace violence injuries doubled for nursing staff. 95% of those injuries were caused by patients. According to the Centers for Disease Control, workplace violence in the healthcare industry accounts for 14 nonfatal injuries involving days away from work per 10,000 full-time employees, which is more than triple the rate seen across all industries. Although healthcare workers make up only 10% of the national workforce, they experience nearly half of all nonfatal workplace violence injuries.
  • Exposure: Nursing and medical assistants have an increased exposure to pathogens, chemicals, infectious disease, gas, and radiation. Exposure to these things on a daily basis increases the risk of severe disease.

What Do Nursing and Medical Assistants Do in Washington, DC?

Medical and nursing assistants are essential roles in the healthcare community. They provide basic care for patients in hospitals and nursing facilities. They often take on clerical duties, as well. Assistants help with patient examinations, drawing blood, administering medications, collecting lab tests, reposition bedridden patients, and answer patient call signals. Whether you are a medical or a nursing assistant, it is a labor-intensive job that is mostly done on your feet.

Washington DC Nursing and Medical Assistant Statistics

According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OHSA), the healthcare and social assistance sectors had 375,111 injuries and illnesses in 2023. Nursing assistants accounted for almost 10%, with 3,215 incidents reported. Because assistants have direct contact with their patients, many workplace injuries are a result of caring for patients. About 46% of medical and nursing assistant back injuries occur when they lift their patients. Medical and nursing assistants are also in danger of slip and fall accidents and needlestick injuries. Needle stick injuries, which are given little attention, often occur while the nursing or medical assistant is drawing blood or disposing of the needle after administering an injection.

 

This pattern is supported by a 2025 study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, which found that overexertion and bodily reaction accounted for 38% of injuries among nursing and residential care facility workers, with falls, slips, and trips accounting for  16% of injuries reported. The OHSA also reports that respiratory conditions are a significant concern, accounting for 11.8% of all healthcare-related cases, which is almost three times higher than the overall average.

 

Why Choose Regan Zambri Long as Your Washington, DC Nursing and Medical Assistant Workers' Compensation Lawyer?

The Regan Zambri Long workers’ compensation lawyers understand that medical and nursing assistants are often overworked and under recognized. While tending to the care and health of others, their labor-intensive job creates a number of problems for their own health and well-being. Injuries on the job are frequently overlooked. 

 

Our experienced workers’ compensation lawyers appreciate the sacrifice nursing and medical assistants make on a daily basis. We will work to ensure you are properly compensated for the injuries sustained on the job. Get the legal representation you deserve.

 

Over the past three decades, our firm has secured dozens of multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts for injured people across DC, Maryland, and Virginia. That results record is matched by a team with deep recognition in workers’ compensation and personal injury. Partner Paul Cornoni has been named Lawyer of the Year for Workers’ Compensation by Best Lawyers, served as President of the District of Columbia Trial Lawyers Association, and has been honored as that organization’s Trial Lawyer of the Year. He appears on the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Washington, DC, alongside senior partners Patrick Regan and Salvatore Zambri.

 

Partner Jacqueline Colclough is a former obstetrical and neonatal nurse who brings unparalleled practical medical insight to every claim involving healthcare workers. She serves on the Board of Governors for the DC Trial Lawyers Association and is a member of the American Association of Nurse Attorneys, which helps her present clear, medically grounded evidence for nursing and medical assistant injuries.

 

All six of our partners are named to Lawdragon’s annual list of the 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers in the United States, and are named by Best Lawyers as being among the top attorneys in America. This combination of courtroom experience, peer recognition, and medical literacy is the foundation we bring to every nursing and medical assistant workers’ compensation case.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Nursing and Medical Assistant Workers’ Compensation in Washington, DC

Q: How do I prove my workplace injury?

A: Your Regan Zambri Long personal injury lawyer will use the following evidence to prove your workers’ compensation claim:

 

  • Photographs of your injuries and of the scene of the accident.
  • Video/surveillance footage from your place of work.
  • Eyewitness testimony (co-workers, patients, visitors, etc.).
  • Pay stubs and attendance reports to prove you were on the clock when the injury took place.
  • Your medical records pertaining to the illness or injury.

After it is proven that you were on the job when you fell ill or got hurt, your workers’ compensation attorney will use the following to collect workers’ comp damage:

  • Medical bills related to your illness or injury
  • Pay stubs to prove lost wages

Q: What is a third-party workers’ compensation claim?

A: The Washington DC workers’ compensation program is a no-fault system, which means it won’t consider fault when you submit your claim as long as the injury took place during the course of your job duties. However, there are circumstances when a third party could be held liable for your injuries. For example, if you are a nursing or medical assistant and were injured from a piece of equipment while on the job, you may have a third-party case against the equipment manufacturer. You will need the following to prove your case:

 

  • Duty of care
  • Negligence of the third party
  • Your injuries were a direct result of their negligence

It is important for you to know that you can recover workers’ compensation damages while pursuing a personal injury claim against a third party. Speak to a Regan Zambri Long personal injury lawyer today and discuss all your legal options.

Q: How much does workers’ compensation pay?

A: There is no cap on medical benefits under Washington DC workers compensation. Any medical bills from your work injury will be fully covered and will continue to be covered for as long as you need medical care. Disability payments will equal to about two-thirds of your average weekly wage prior to getting injured. If you were permanently disabled due to your work injury, you may be eligible to receive supplemental payments on top of the weekly workers’ compensation pay.

Q: Can I leave my job or be fired while on workers’ compensation?

A: Quitting your job before you submit your workers’ compensation claim can hinder you from receiving benefits for your injury. However, if you quit your job after your claim is filed, you will still be able to receive benefits. One of the most important things to note is that it is illegal for your employer to fire you for submitting a workers’ compensation claim. If you believe that your employer is retaliating against you for filing a claim, call the offices of Regan Zambri Long immediately to discuss the best legal strategies. Your workers’ compensation lawyer may decide that receiving your benefits in one lump sum will be more beneficial than a weekly payout.

Q: What should I expect from a Regan Zambri Long workers’ compensation attorney?

A: Being injured at work is extremely stressful. Not only do you have the financial burden from an onset of unexpected medical bills, but you may also be missing work and wages due to the injury or illness. At Regan Zambri Long, we understand what you and your family are going through and we will do everything we can to ease the burden of the claims process so you can focus on recovering. While it isn’t required to have legal counsel for a workers’ compensation claim, it most certainly is advisable. Our workers’ compensation lawyers at Regan Zambri Long can advocate for you if employer denies your claim, if your employer tries to retaliate against you for filing a claim, if your settlement offer is too low, or if you require additional compensation. Call today for a free consultation with a seasoned workers’ compensation lawyer so you can recover the damages you deserve.

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Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.

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