A professional workers’ compensation lawyer can help you get the benefits you deserve after an injury or illness. They can help you deal with an employer who denies your claim or tries to link it to a pre-existing condition.
They can also ensure that a settlement you accept will not have negative consequences. They know what evidence is needed to tilt the scales of justice in your favor.
They Protect Your Rights
Workers’ compensation lawyers help ensure you receive the full settlement amount. They can also work to prevent creditors from putting liens on your payment and may offer advice on managing your lump sum award.
When a worker files a workers’ comp claim, the insurance company may try to deny it or reduce the benefits. A workers’ comp attorney can review your medical records and work with the insurance provider to resolve disputes.
Some injuries are harder to prove than others, such as mental trauma that does not appear on X-rays. A workers’ compensation lawyer like thehouseofworkcomp.com can ensure you get a complete evaluation by qualified specialists. They can also negotiate a settlement that covers all of your expenses. In addition, they can protect you from retaliation by your employer through reduced hours, demotions, harassment, or firing. They can also file civil claims on your behalf against third parties, such as manufacturers of defective machinery, if necessary.
They Help You File Your Claim
If you were injured in a workplace accident, your actions immediately afterward will greatly influence how your claim is resolved. For instance, you must seek medical treatment from a doctor that the insurance provider or your employer approves, or your workers’ comp case may be denied.
If the insurance company or your employer disagrees with your injury’s severity or disability rating, they can try to minimize, reduce or suspend your benefits. A workers’ compensation lawyer will work to demonstrate the seriousness of the condition to prevent this from occurring.
If you can’t settle through negotiation, your case will advance to a hearing before a workers’ compensation judge. During this stage, your attorney will perform the discovery process by taking depositions, collecting medical records, conducting legal research and writing pleadings (petitions, motions and responses to requests made by the insurance company). At the hearing, your workers’ compensation attorney will present your case theory to the judge, make opening and closing arguments, examine witnesses and raise objections when necessary.
They Help You Get the Medical Care You Need
Workers’ compensation lawyers help their clients navigate the entire claim process. They answer questions, help them fill out forms, complete paperwork, and negotiate settlements. They also attend hearings, trials, depositions, arbitrations, and other legal proceedings on behalf of their clients.
Getting the medical care you need is one of the most important parts of a successful workers’ compensation case. Injured employees must see a doctor soon after an injury or illness and keep up with regular appointments. The insurance provider may argue that a doctor’s recommendation for treatment is unnecessary or unrelated to the job, and an attorney can fight back against these claims.
A lawyer can also help a client file a third-party civil claim against someone outside the employer’s workers’ comp insurance. This could include a subcontractor, vendor, product manufacturer, or someone who caused the injury through negligence. Often, these cases result in larger settlements because the injured worker can pursue noneconomic damages.
They Help You Negotiate a Settlement
If you cannot return to work, your workers’ compensation lawyer will help you negotiate a fair settlement. They will send the insurance company a demand letter with the amount they believe you are entitled to for your injuries and give them access to any relevant documentation. The insurance company may then make a counteroffer. The two parties might be able to reach an agreement quickly, or negotiations may drag on if the insurance company doesn’t believe your injuries are as severe as you and your doctors claim.
Injured workers are often disadvantaged when seeking proper compensation because the insurance company is focused on making profits and doesn’t want to pay out the full amounts injured employees are entitled to. The attorneys for workers’ comp cases understand this and fight to ensure their clients receive all they owe. This process can take time, but it is well worth it when you consider the alternatives.
