If you’ve been injured on the job, retaining a workers’ compensation lawyer to represent you can help you receive the benefits you deserve, while you focus on your health and recovery. Learn 10 reasons why it is critical to hire legal representation below.
Sustaining a workplace injury can cause you an unimaginable amount of stress. Between coming to terms with your on-the-job injury, figuring out how to receive and pay for medical treatment, and managing household bills, there’s a lot going on all at once. Rather than allowing yourself to become overwhelmed, your main focus should be on your health and recovery, which is why handling your situation alone isn’t an ideal option. Instead, hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer to represent you will give you a better shot at a successful claim and fair compensation.
10 Reasons to Hire a Workers Comp Lawyer After a Workplace Injury
Suffered an injury at work? Here is how a workers’ compensation lawyer can help you.
1. Find Out Your Eligibility.
When it comes to eligibility, most employees are entitled to workers’ compensation, but there can be some exceptions that you may not be aware of. For instance, there are special rules around some categories of employees including those who are domestic workers, temp agency employees, those in agriculture or farming, and seasonal workers. A workers’ compensation lawyer can help determine your eligibility after discussing your unique circumstances with you.
2. Ensure You Meet All Legal Requirements in Your State.
To successfully file a claim for benefits, you will need to meet your state’s legal requirements or conditions. These can include:
- You must be an employee.
- Your employer carries workers’ compensation insurance.
- You must be able to prove that you have suffered a work-related injury or illness.
- Your injury or illness was reported to your employer by a specific deadline.
- You must have seen an approved physician or doctor. Often to ensure this, it is recommended to see one from your employer’s list or panel.
Even if you know that you meet all of the above requirements, it is still good to check with a workers’ compensation lawyer, as there may be other conditions that you need to meet to collect benefits.
3. Help You Seek Out the Right Benefits.
A workers’ compensation lawyer can tell you which type of benefits you qualify for. For instance, you may be eligible for medical benefits to pay for your medical treatment, and disability benefits during your recovery, but not vocational benefits if you can return to your previous work environment. The key here is that a workers’ compensation lawyer can determine which benefits you are eligible for, and which benefits you deserve.
Generally, medical benefits are paid out immediately, and disability benefits can be collected if you miss a certain number of work days. Vocational rehabilitation benefits are applicable if the injury you sustained prevents you from doing the work you did previously.
4. Help You Collect the Maximum Allowed Benefits.
If you are out of work for an extended period, the monetary losses will add up quickly. A workers’ compensation lawyer can ensure that you are receiving the maximum allowed benefits that you are entitled to (according to your state’s laws), helping you combat these losses while you are out of work.
5. Communicate With Your Employer’s Insurance Company.
Just because you are eligible and have filed a claim, doesn’t necessarily mean you will get the benefits automatically. In filing a claim, you will have to deal with your employer’s insurance company throughout the process, which typically doesn’t go smoothly for most. A workers’ compensation lawyer can communicate with the insurance company on your behalf and navigate around the challenges and obstacles that they throw your way.
6. Will Tackle Obstacles and Challenges.
Your employer’s insurance company may choose to refuse the benefits you are filing for, accuse you of being at fault for your injury, or may deny the benefits with no explanation at all. If you take too long, the insurance company may even terminate your benefits early, placing you in a very difficult situation.
Overcoming these challenges, without knowing how to navigate the legal policies, can be near impossible, which is why hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer is in your best interest.
7. Can Negotiate a Lump-Sum Settlement For You.
If you are worried about your employer’s insurance company terminating your benefits too soon, you can have a workers’ compensation lawyer negotiate a lump-sum payment on your behalf. However, you will need an attorney that is trial-ready, reputable, and experienced.
8. Can File an Appeal on Your Behalf (If Needed).
If the insurance company continues to deny the benefits at every stage of the claim process, you may need to file an appeal. While it is possible to appeal a claim on your own, it is often better to utilize the expertise of a workers’ compensation lawyer, as they will have the necessary knowledge to go up against the insurance’s defense lawyers in court.
9. Help You Seek Additional Compensation.
To secure maximum compensation, you’ll want to look at all options that are available to you. While workers’ compensation is one route, you may also be able to file for a personal injury claim or even social security disability benefits. A workers’ compensation lawyer can help you evaluate all of your options, ensure that you understand each route’s potential success, and build a strategy with you to ensure you get the benefits you deserve.
10. Can Give You Peace of Mind.
Hiring an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can give you peace of mind that the outcome you received from your claim was, in full, and fair. To come away with the confidence that your legal rights were protected, and that you received the maximum allowed benefits, may help place the negative experience behind you at a quicker pace.
Do you reside in Florida, and need to file for workers’ compensation? With more than 30 years of experience in handling workers’ compensation cases, Frank M. Eidson P.A. has the expertise you need for a successful claim. We are ready to review your case through our free, no-obligation, consultation. Call us at 407-245-2887 or contact us online to book a free case review.