As a great many of our clients are presently involved in ongoing Workers’ Compensation claims, it is very important that the various benefits and entitlements are understood and actively pursued.

A great example of one such benefit is mileage reimbursement for travel back and forth from visits to medical providers. In a Maryland Workers’ Compensation claim, injured workers are entitled to be reimbursed at the rate of $0.575 (fifty seven point five cents).

This means that for all causally related medical visits to a hospital, physician’s office, physical therapy facility, imaging facility (X-rays, MRI, C.T. scans) or independent medical examination (IME) scheduled by the insurance carrier, the injured worker is entitled to have this mileage reimbursed by the insurance carrier at the above-listed rate.

While this may seem like a small amount of money, it can grow very rapidly to hundreds of dollars. This is particularly the case when an injured worker finds him/herself traveling back and forth to physical therapy sessions several times per week. As a result, we suggest keeping very careful track of these expenses. In fact, we provide pre-printed mileage logs to our clients in an effort to help obtain this benefit.

Insurance carriers, however, will typically not voluntarily pay this benefit. In other words, if the mileage reimbursement is not requested, it will never be collected. Since it is difficult enough to make ends meet while trying to survive on temporary total disability (wage loss benefits), every little bit can help.

Please be sure to discuss this issue with your attorney and/or paralegal as we wish to seek all benefits to which our clients are entitled.