Specific Ways That A Workers' Compensation Lawyer Can Help You
Whether you work in an office or an industrial setting, you could get injured on the job for a variety of reasons. Work-related injuries don't always heal easily on their own, and you may require medical treatment and additional long-term care. As you try to recover, you might also have to miss work for an extended period, which could greatly affect your income.
Workers' compensation insurance is supposed to pay employees who are injured on the job to make up for lost work wages and other related expenses, but this isn't always a straightforward process. If you are having trouble getting the money you deserve or just want some legal guidance throughout the process, a workers' compensation lawyer can try to help you in the following ways.
Negotiate a Settlement
The attorney you hire will attempt to negotiate the fairest settlement possible with your employers' workers' compensation program. Your lawyer will be sure to show your medical bills, a record of lost wages, and other documentation as proof that you need a certain dollar amount in your settlement to save you from financial ruin as you try to recover from your injury.
Argue for More Payment
If your employer's workers' compensation program offers you a lower settlement amount than what you should be getting, your workers' compensation lawyer can try to get you more money. You may be entitled to receive more if you have extensive injuries and require long-term care, and your attorney will present the medical records and other pieces of evidence that justify your claim.
Dispute a Denied Claim
Your claim might be denied outright, but you have the legal right to appeal the decision. The claim may have been denied because of a lack of evidence or something as simple as a clerical error. Your lawyer will work with you to try to dispute the claim denial by providing any additional evidence or making any corrections to your claim that are needed before the appeal deadline passes.
Represent You in Court
If your employer's workers' compensation provider still refuses to pay your claim or insists on offering you a lower amount, you can take your case to court and let a judge make the final decision. Your employer will likely have their own business attorney at the hearing as well, and your workers' compensation lawyer will try to refute any tactics the attorney might use to try to justify your company's decision about your claim.
Workers' compensation insurance is designed to cover employees who are injured at work, and you shouldn't hesitate to file a claim if an injury is serious enough to impact your job performance and finances. When you hire a workers' compensation lawyer to assist you, you'll likely stand a better chance of getting the money that you need to make your life whole again.
For more information, contact a workers' compensation lawyer near you.