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A work injury can upend your health, income, and sense of security in an instant. Regan Zambri Long’s Washington DC workers’ compensation lawyers understand what it takes to protect injured employees and their families. One of our partners has been named Lawyer of the Year for Workers’ Compensation, and our board-certified attorneys have been building evidence-based claims that stand up to large employers and insurance companies for almost 30 years.
We front all case costs and retain top medical, safety, and financial experts to show how an injury occurred and what is needed for full recovery. These experts help calculate long-term costs, document the impact on your ability to work, and strengthen negotiations when insurers challenge your claim. Our award-winning team manages every detail, from medical documentation to benefit disputes, ensuring you have the strongest possible case. With over 100 5 star Google reviews, clients across the District trust us to secure fair results.
Have you been injured at work in Washington, DC? Contact Regan Zambri Long today, and one of our attorneys will call you back personally. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and you don’t pay unless we win your case.
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The District of Columbia’s Workmen’s Compensation Act was passed on May 17, 1928. The act ensures that employees’ medical needs and lost wages are covered in the event of a workplace accident. Workers’ compensation is meant to protect both the employer and the employee. Employers pay for the workers’ compensation coverage and in return, an employee cannot directly sue their boss if they are injured on the job.
It is required, by law, for Washington DC employers to obtain workers’ compensation insurance when they open their business. As an employee of a business located in Washington DC, you should be eligible for workers’ comp benefits if you meet the following requirements:
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), the three most common nonfatal work injuries in the United States are:
Overexertion and bodily reactions: These injuries are from straining physical work, like lifting, pushing, carrying, or throwing. If you are in an industry where you are on your feet all day, have to repeat the same motions over and over, or are dealing with heavy equipment, you will be exposed to more injuries related to overexertion.
The NSC reports that musculoskeletal disorders cost US businesses in the private sector nearly $18 billion a year, and are the most common of the estimated 2.6 million workplace injuries reported in 2023.
Data from Travelers Insurance’s 2024 Injury Impact Report, which analyzed more than 1.2 million workers’ compensation claims between 2017 and 2021, shows that overexertion accounted for 29% of all claims, making it the leading cause of workplace injuries across the United States.
Slips, trips, and falls: These injuries happen when a worker slips or falls in their place of work. It could be on the same level, or on multiple levels. For example, if you are a construction worker you may have fallen from a collapsing structure, or a ladder. According to the Travelers report, slips, trips, and falls made up 23% of workers’ compensation claims, highlighting how common these accidents are across a wide range of job settings, from office spaces to construction sites.
Contact with objects or equipment: These accidents occur when a moving object hits a worker, a part of a worker’s body is pinched or crushed in equipment, or when a worker is caught in collapsing structures or equipment. If you work as a car mechanic, for example, there is a risk of being injured while working on the vehicle equipment.
The same Travelers analysis found that being struck by an object accounted for 12% of claims, while caught-in or caught-between hazards each represented 5%, underscoring the ongoing risk of injury from machinery, tools, and heavy equipment.
There are a number of other ways to be severely injured at work. No matter how it happened, you have the right to compensation. The workplace accident lawyers at Regan Zambri Long PLLC have handled workers’ compensation claims with various injuries and can help you secure the maximum compensation.
Filing a workers’ compensation claim can be intimidating. You’re trying to cope with being injured, possibly out of work, and then have to navigate through what seems like an endless amount of paperwork on top of it. This is where the Regan Zambri Long PLLC work injury lawyers can help. Your attorney will take care of the paperwork for you so you can focus on a full recovery.
In order to be successful in your DC workers’ compensation claim, the following steps need to be taken:
If this paperwork is not filled out in time, you may forfeit your right to workers’ comp benefits. Document all medical expenses and treatment related to your injury. There are cases when the employer tries to downplay the injury. Seeking medical attention immediately will not only ensure your health and safety following the accident, but will also help with your compensation claim.
You have the right to collect workers’ comp benefits. Workers’ compensation coverage will provide reasonable and necessary medical and disability benefits as a result of a work injury. Medical coverage includes:
Disability benefits include:
You have the right to your own doctor. If your employer tries to pressure you into seeing an approved doctor, contact a Regan Zambri Long PLLC workplace accident attorney right away. You have the right to choose your doctor for diagnosis and treatment of the workplace injury.
You have the right to negotiate a lump sum settlement. A lump sum settlement is when the employee is paid their benefits in one large payment, rather than being paid ongoing weekly benefits. Your work injury lawyer will be able to advise you on the best strategy to receive your compensation benefits.
You have the right to appeal a denied workers’ compensation claim. If your claim is denied, you have the right to request an informal conference or formal hearing. You have the right to an attorney in the appeals process.
Choosing Regan Zambri Long means putting nearly 200 years of combined experience behind your claim. Our firm has secured over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts for personal injury victims and their families, earning a reputation for standing up to powerful insurers and corporations.
Partner Paul Cornoni has been named Lawyer of the Year for Workers’ Compensation by Best Lawyers and Lawyer of the Year by the District of Columbia Trial Lawyers Association, distinctions that reflect his deep knowledge of complex work injury law.
Leadership runs throughout the firm. Four partners have served as presidents of the DC Trial Lawyers Association, while Jacqueline Colclough currently sits on its Board of Governors, and Christopher Regan serves as co-chair of the New Lawyers Division.
Our three named partners are board certified in Civil Trial Law and Civil Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and hold AV Preeminent ratings from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest measure of professional integrity and legal skill.
All six partners appear on the Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers list, with Salvatore Zambri ranked among DC’s Top 10 Super Lawyers, and Paul Cornoni and Patrick Regan recognized in the Top 100.
When you choose Regan Zambri Long, you choose a firm with the credentials, leadership, and proven record to protect your rights and maximize your recovery.
Medical bills are completely covered under the Washington DC workers’ compensation system. All medical expenses related to your work injury will be compensated. Disability payments will equal about two-thirds of your average weekly wage prior to your injury.
Unreasonable delay is when the employer or their insurance carrier delays workers’ comp payments to its employee in bad faith. When this happens, the employer can be forced to pay the worker their actual weekly salary in addition to any compensation due and payable during the period of delay.
Yes, you can. The DC Workers’ Compensation system is a no-fault insurance policy, meaning, if you are injured at work or in the course of your job duties, you are entitled to receive compensation regardless of fault. However, there are certain situations where you can be denied benefits. If you have self-inflicted injuries or if your injury occurred when you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol, your employer may deny benefits.
Hiring a work injury lawyer is always beneficial to the employee because it gives you a guaranteed legal advocate who will make sure your rights are protected at every step of the workers’ compensation process. Injuries that are clearly work related, such as being caught or hit by moving machinery in a factory, are not usually disputed by insurance companies. However, there are cases that are not as clearly-cut and you can run into roadblocks while trying to receive compensation.
If your workers’ compensation was denied for any of the following reasons, contact the workplace accident lawyers at Regan Zambri Long PLLC for a free consultation. They will help you determine the best ways to move forward:
Washington DC is an at-will District, meaning an employer can fire an employee at any time, for any reason. The same goes for the employee – an employee can quit a job at any time, for any reason. However, even though DC is an at-will District, Washington DC employees are still protected against any form of discrimination, including any form of retaliation for filing a workers’ compensation claim.
Common forms of employer retaliation are:
Employer retaliation, especially wrongful termination is illegal. If you suspect your employer is retaliating against you for filing a workers’ comp claim, contact a Regan Zambri Long PLLC work accident lawyer immediately. Your attorney will conduct a thorough investigation of your situation and help you recover damages for:
If your workers’ compensation claim is initially denied, the Office of Workers’ Compensation (OWC) will investigate the claim. An informal conference may be held to try to reach an agreement between the employer and employee.
If an agreement cannot be reached at the informal conference, the party who disagrees has 14 business days to notify the OWC and file for a formal hearing within 34 business days. The case will then be brought in front of a judge who will conduct a hearing and issue a Compensation Order.
If there is still a dispute after the formal hearing, you have 30 days to file an Application For Review with the Compensation Review Board. Past the Review Board, you may appeal to the DC Court of Appeals within 30 days.
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.