Your Trusted FECA Injury Claim Attorney

Getting injured at work is a stressful experience for anyone. For federal employees, the anxiety often doubles because the rules governing your compensation are entirely different from those in the private sector. You aren’t covered by state workers’ compensation laws. Instead, you fall under a complex federal system known as the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA). Navigating the Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) can feel like walking through a maze without a map. One missed deadline or one poorly phrased medical report can lead to a denial of benefits, leaving you injured and without a paycheck. It is vital to understand that you have specific rights. Whether you are a postal carrier in New Jersey, a TSA agent in California, or a civilian employee stationed overseas, the law provides a safety net for you. This guide explores the details of the FECA system, the benefits available to you, and how you can trust Aumiller Lomax LLC as your trusted FECA injury claim attorney.

What Is FECA and Who Does It Cover?

Enacted in 1916, the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) is a comprehensive workers’ compensation law for federal employees. It provides compensation to civilian employees of the United States for disability due to personal injury sustained while in the performance of duty. It also provides benefits to dependents if an injury causes the employee’s death. The scope of FECA is massive. It covers nearly 3 million federal and postal workers worldwide. Unlike state-based systems, FECA is non-adversarial in theory, meaning it is designed to help the worker. However, in practice, the burden of proof rests entirely on you, the injured worker.

Who Is Covered?

FECA coverage extends to almost all civilian employees of the federal government. This coverage applies regardless of where you are working. Aumiller Lomax LLC represents federal workers wherever they are located—from federal government employees across the nation to those stationed overseas. Read below to discover who is covered, including but not limited to:

• Postal workers (USPS)
• Employees of federal agencies (FBI, IRS, TSA, VA, etc.)
• Federal jurors
• Peace Corps volunteers
• Civilian employees working on military bases

FECA Rights and Benefits for Federal Employees

If you suffer a job-related injury or illness, FECA provides several distinct types of assistance. The goal is to restore you, as much as possible, to the state you were in before the injury occurred. Understanding these benefits is the first step toward securing them.

• Medical Services and Initial Choice of Physician: You have the right to full medical coverage for your work-related condition. This includes surgeries, medications, therapy, and appliances (such as braces or crutches) necessary to treat the injury. Perhaps most importantly, you have the right to choose your initial treating physician. The OWCP cannot force you to see a specific company doctor for your initial treatment, though they can send you for a “second opinion” exam later.
• Continuation of Pay (COP): For traumatic injuries (specific accidents that happen in a single work shift), you may be eligible for Continuation of Pay. This allows you to keep receiving your regular salary for up to 45 calendar days while you recover or while your claim is being adjudicated. This is a critical bridge that prevents immediate financial hardship.
• Wage Loss Compensation: If your disability extends beyond the 45-day COP period, or if you have an occupational illness (one that developed over time), you are entitled to wage loss compensation.
• Schedule Awards: If your injury results in a permanent impairment to a specific body part (such as a limb, eye, or hearing), you may be entitled to a “schedule award.” This is a monetary payment separate from wage loss, meant to compensate you for the permanent loss of function.
• Vocational Rehabilitation: If your injury prevents you from returning to your specific job, the OWCP may provide vocational rehabilitation services to help you find work that accommodates your physical restrictions.

Common Injuries Covered Under FECA

FECA claims generally fall into two categories: Traumatic Injury and Occupational Disease. Understanding the difference is essential because they require different forms and have different burdens of proof.

Traumatic Injury

A traumatic injury is a wound or other condition of the body caused by external force, including stress or strain. The key factor is that it must occur during a single work shift or workday.

• Slips, trips, and falls on federal property.
• Dog bites (common for letter carriers).
• Vehicle accidents while driving a federal vehicle.
• Lifting injuries (herniated discs) from moving heavy equipment.
• Assaults while performing official duties.

Occupational Disease

An occupational disease is a condition produced by the work environment over a period longer than one single workday or shift. These claims are often more complex to prove because you must link the medical condition directly to the work duties performed over time.

• Carpal tunnel syndrome from repetitive typing or sorting.
• Respiratory illnesses caused by exposure to asbestos or chemicals.
• Hearing loss from long-term exposure to loud machinery (like aircraft or sorting machines).
• Emotional conditions or PTSD resulting from continued harassment or stressful work environments (though these are strictly scrutinized).
• Degenerative disc disease exacerbated by years of carrying heavy mailbags.

Filing a FECA Injury Claim: Step-by-Step Guide

The moments following an injury are often chaotic, but the actions you take immediately can determine the success of your claim. The OWCP is a bureaucracy that runs on paperwork, and missing a form or a deadline can be disastrous. Here is a general roadmap for filing a claim:

• Report the Injury Immediately: Notify your supervisor as soon as the injury occurs. Even if you think it is minor, document it. If you wait, the OWCP may argue that the injury did not happen at work.
• Seek Medical Attention: Go to a doctor immediately. Be explicit with the doctor that your injury happened at work. The medical report must clearly state the injury history and diagnosis.
• File the Correct Form:
  • Form CA-1: Use this for Traumatic Injuries. It must be filed within thirty days to be eligible for COP, though you can file for compensation up to three years after the incident.
  • Form CA-2: Use this for Occupational Disease claims.
• Obtain a Form CA-16: If you suffered a traumatic injury, ask your supervisor for Form CA-16 (Authorization for Examination and/or Treatment). This guarantees payment for your medical treatment for up to sixty days, even if the claim is eventually denied. Supervisors are required to issue this for traumatic injuries requiring medical attention.
• Establish Causal Relationship: This is where most claims fail. You must provide a medical narrative from your doctor that explains how the specific work incident caused the specific medical diagnosis. Simply having pain at work is not enough. Your doctor must connect the dots with a medical rationale.
• Contact a Federal Employee Injury Claim Attorney: Before you navigate the appeals process or if you face resistance from your agency, consulting with a specialized attorney can save your claim.

How Aumiller Lomax LLC Helps Federal Employees

The federal compensation system is distinct from state systems. A lawyer who handles car accidents or state workers’ comp claims in New Jersey or Virginia may not understand the specific regulations of the OWCP. Using a generalist for a FECA claim is a risk you should not take. Aumiller Lomax LLC is a federal compensation law firm dedicated to helping federal employees nationwide. We understand the specific medical evidence required to overturn a denial. We know how to communicate with claims examiners. We assist clients with:

• Initial Claims: Guiding you through the paperwork to ensure it is done right the first time.
• Denied Claims: analyzing why a claim was rejected and gathering the necessary medical evidence to win an appeal.
• Schedule Awards: Maximizing the compensation you receive for permanent impairments.
• Disability Retirement: Helping you transition if you can no longer work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Navigating the complexities of federal workers’ compensation can be an overwhelming experience, especially when you are focused on recovering from a work-related injury. Below are some of the most common questions our clients ask when seeking to secure their benefits.

• Can I sue the federal government for my injury? Generally, no. FECA is an “exclusive remedy.” This means that in exchange for the guaranteed benefits provided by the act (medical coverage, wage loss), you give up the right to sue the government for negligence. You cannot file a personal injury lawsuit against your federal employer.
• Can I go to my own doctor? You have the right to choose your initial treating physician. Your agency might suggest a doctor, but it cannot force you to use that doctor for treatment. However, you must be careful. Once you choose a physician, you generally need OWCP’s approval to switch to a different specialist.
• Why was my claim denied? The most common reason for denial is a lack of “causal relationship.” This means the claims examiner accepts that the incident happened and that you have a medical condition. Still, they do not believe the medical evidence proves the incident caused the condition. A FECA injury claim attorney can help you obtain the medical narrative needed to fix this.
• Does the OWCP pay for my attorney? Under FECA regulations, attorneys are not paid by the government or the insurance fund. You are responsible for your attorney’s fees. However, these fees must be approved by the OWCP to ensure they are reasonable. At Aumiller Lomax LLC, we are transparent about our fee structure and how we work to provide value that exceeds the cost.
• Is there a time limit to file a claim? The statute of limitations for filing a FECA claim is three years from the date of injury (or from the date you became aware of the relationship between your disease and your employment). However, to receive Continuation of Pay (COP) for a traumatic injury, you must file Form CA-1 within 30 days.

Why Choose Aumiller Lomax LLC for FECA Cases

When your livelihood is on the line, you need an advocate who speaks the language of the OWCP. The federal government has vast resources and teams of people reviewing your file; you deserve to have a dedicated legal team in your corner. At Aumiller Lomax LLC, we focus exclusively on federal sector employment law and injury compensation. We do not dabble in other areas of law. This focus helps us stay current with the changing regulations and decisions of the Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board (ECAB). If you are a federal employee who has been injured on the job, do not wait until you receive a denial letter to seek help. Whether you are in the Northeast region or anywhere across the nation, we are ready to stand up for your rights. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case and secure the benefits you earned.