When is it Time to Call a Workers’ Comp Attorney?

Have you been in an accident on the job? If you have, are you thinking about calling a workers’ comp attorney?

If you have an accepted claim, you may not be getting the full amount of compensation you’re entitled to. The right attorney can help you get what you’re entitled to in terms of medical bills, wages lost, and disability pay.

Here’s how you’ll know when it’s time to hire a professional.

Your Injury Was Serious

In some situations, you may have sustained only a minor injury at work. In these cases, you may be able to file a claim and miss only a couple of days on the job.

Minor injuries mean you probably won’t need to contact an attorney, especially if your employer admits it happened at work. This could mean something like a twisted ankle or a cut or bruise.

If, however, your injury involves a significant injury or a long period of treatment, you may need to contact an attorney to make sure you get all the compensation you need to cover your expenses.

If you have been severely impaired or cannot return to work, you may be entitled to receive weekly payments from your employer’s insurance. A worker’s compensation attorney can help you get the money you need right away so you don’t fall behind on your bills.

You may have ongoing bills that your insurance doesn’t fully cover, such as physical therapy. A worker’s compensation attorney can help get those bills submitted to your employer, so they are being taken care of, without you being out-of-pocket for those costs.  

Your Employer Retaliates

After you file an insurance claim, you could find yourself in a situation where your employer seeks to retaliate against you. They could demote you, give you fewer hours, or even ask you to resign.

Your employer isn’t legally permitted to respond to a legitimate claim in this manner. A personal injury attorney can help defend you.

A Third Party Is Involved

The worker’s comp system was put in place so that you can get financial help for work-related injuries without filing civil lawsuits.

If, however, a third-party contributed to your injury, you’re permitted to sue for additional damages. You may, for example, get hurt by a piece of machinery that was defective.  Or injured in a car wreck while driving for work, and the other person is at fault for the wreck.  

In these cases, you’ll need a worker’s comp attorney to guide you in the best way to proceed.

Your Employer Denies Your Claim

Your employer may reject your claim, hoping you won’t appeal.

A worker’s compensation attorney will usually start with a free consultation, so it won’t cost you anything to find out if you have a case. They can let you know how to go about getting the right amount of compensation for your injuries.

You and Your Employer Disagree About Your Ability to Return to Work

Your employer or their insurance company may tell you that it’s okay for you to return to work with certain modifications in your schedule or role. This way, they can avoid paying you the full compensation you’re entitled to.

A personal injury attorney will argue your case for you so you don’t have to go back to work before you’re ready and risk making your injury worse.

You’re Receiving Social Security Benefits

It’s possible for your worker’s comp benefits to significantly diminish your social security payments. This is something to worry about if your total benefits become greater than 80% of what your income was before your disability.

A worker’s comp attorney can help you structure your paperwork to make sure that your social security benefits are kept mostly or completely intact.

You Have a Pre-Existing Condition

If you have a pre-existing condition, such as a back injury, that is documented, it’s possible for an insurance company to use it as an excuse to deny your benefits.

A pre-existing condition does not disqualify you from receiving benefits through the worker’s comp system. You’ll need the right attorney to fight for you.

Time to Win

If you’ve been seriously injured at work and are not getting the compensation you need, it may be time to hire a workers comp attorney. The right attorney will earn you the money you need to pay your bills and get back on your feet, and make sure that you receive all benefits that you are entitled to.  

For more information on your workers’ compensation case, contact us today.