A work injury can leave you out of your job, in pain, and stressed about medical and household bills. Often, workers are unaware of all the compensation options available and receive fewer benefits than they deserve. Discover why you need a workers’ compensation attorney below.
1. You Meet Legal Requirements
Every state requires injured workers to meet several criteria when filing a workers’ compensation case. For instance, you may have to prove that the injury is work-related or see a specified medical provider. You may also need to report the injury to your employee by a particular deadline.
Your state may add other conditions you must fulfill to collect your compensation. An attorney ensures that you satisfy all requirements on time for your claim to be successful.
2. They Determine the Value of Your Case
A workers’ compensation attorney deals with similar cases, so they can help you determine how much you should receive. Your attorney’s top priority is determining the benefits you qualify for. In most states, injured workers can collect medical benefits immediately to cover hospital bills.
In addition, you may qualify for vocational rehabilitation, disability, wage loss, and other benefits that compensate for the time you miss from work and permanent injuries. If you don’t know all the benefits available, you will likely accept lowball offers that don’t fully compensate for the work injury’s impact on your life.
3. They Negotiate With the Insurance Company
Most employers have workers’ compensation insurance, which means you have to deal with the insurer to receive benefits. Sometimes, insurance companies deny claims for work-related injuries or offer low settlements to maximize their profits.
Remember that insurers retain attorneys who can take advantage of your unfamiliarity with the workers’ compensation system. A workers’ compensation attorney uses their seasoned skills to negotiate with the insurer and fight for the benefits you deserve.
4. They File an Appeal
Most people assume they have a strong case if they have witnesses to their injuries and they have received medical care, only for the insurer to deny their claim. When this happens, a worker’s compensation attorney is your best bet to rebuild your case. An attorney knows the evidence to gather for a strong appeal, and they go against the insurer’s legal team to get you a fair settlement.
5. They Represent You in Court
Many workers’ compensation cases settle out of court, primarily in cases where the insurance company accepts the claim. However, your case may proceed to court if the insurer denies your benefits.
Taking a workers’ compensation case to court adds more complications since you must file the necessary paperwork on time and prepare for trial. The process is time-consuming and stressful if you need to recover from your injuries. A workers’ compensation attorney knows how the judicial system works and represents you in court with solid evidence.
6. They Offer Affordable Representation
Some injured workers hesitate to contact workers’ compensation attorneys because they assume the legal fee is expensive. However, you don’t have to pay the attorney out of pocket.
Most attorneys represent injured employees on a contingency fee, meaning they collect a small portion of your settlement amount. Considering that an attorney recovers more than you could, you gain more by hiring an attorney.
7. You Focus on Recovery
Work-related injuries leave you in pain and unable to pay your medical costs and household bills. Additionally, dealing with crafty insurers and filing endless paperwork is stressful. A workers’ compensation attorney handles all the legal aspects of your case so you can focus on recovery and going back to work.
Our legal experts at Frenkel & Frenkel have fought for the benefits of injured Dallas workers for more than 25 years, and we will do the same for you. Contact us today to get the compensation you deserve.
