An effective workers’ compensation lawyer works with you during one of the hardest times to navigate. Whether you work in an office, a factory, or on the road, it’s not uncommon for people to get hurt on the job.

When that injury causes you to be unable to work, then workers’ compensation could be your saving grace. The idea is that you file a claim for benefits, and some level of financial compensation is afforded to you as you recover.

For an injured employee that injured themselves due to their own fault, or by no liability of anyone else, this works great to help employees heal and be able to return to work. However, when the workplace injury is due to the negligence of the employer or coworkers a workers compensation law firm can step in.

As straightforward as the process may seem, things get complex down the line, especially since most employers try to deny or minimize this kind of compensation. Among the most common counterarguments are disparaging of the seriousness of the injury or an attempt to insinuate that the injury did not happen on the job or at fault of the employer.

Steps To Understanding A Workers Compensation Claim

Why You Should Hire a Lawyer after a Workplace Accident

So far, you see the sentiment of hiring a lawyer being echoed through the information provided. The reality is that workers’ compensation can be highly beneficial to someone who can no longer earn due to a work-related injury. However, compassion is not what you are met with, and it’s hard to defend your interests without the required knowledge base or resources.

Employers are notorious for making it incredibly difficult for their injured employees to access compensation at all, let alone a fair amount. Your personal injury attorney is meant to be your guiding light in such situations.

First, you no longer need to worry about understanding the fundamentals of what to do and how to act in this situation. Instead, the attorney assigns you a series of action items. Once completed, you can rest assured that you have effectively carried out all the required prerequisites to ensure compliance and maximize your chances of an acceptable settlement.

There are many aspects to think about when dealing with a workers’ comp claim.  If you are receiving social security disability insurance benefits those benefits could be affected by workers’ compensation benefits. 

You can think of an attorney as a legal advocate for personal injury lawsuits. Remember that this is someone who wins when you win, so if nothing else, that is an indicator of the kind of motivated person you have on your side.

Some employers make unfair decisions and use intimidation tactics because they know that affected employees lack the understanding to see through what is going on. Additionally, when someone appears to have control over your livelihood, you may not be too keen on challenging that person’s position.

Well, what if you didn’t have to? Communication is a big part of what a workers’ compensation lawyer does. That means speaking to the insurance companies on your behalf and doing so to your employer too.

On that note, even if you have not yet completed the attorney retention process, if contacted, let the insurance company know that you do not wish to converse without your lawyer.

Frequently Asked Questions About Workers’ Compensation Claims

A few questions continue to emerge where workers’ compensation is concerned. Though the recommended course of action is always to get the specifics from your attorney, the answers below may give you a high-level understanding.

Eligibility depends on several moving parts. These include your location, industry, and state laws. Additionally, whatever you were doing when the injury occurred should fall within the scope and requirements of your job.

Typically, state laws require that employers have workers’ compensation insurance in place for their workforce. The exception to this rule is Texas, which only has this stipulation for public entities.

To find out if you are eligible call a workers’ compensation lawyer today for a free consultation.

There is a wide range of workers’ compensation injuries which can range from major to minor injuries. From cuts and bee stings to traumatic brain injuries.  They can include physical injuries as well as mental.  Here is a collection of a few common workplace accident injuries.

  • Head injuries- traumatic brain injury
  • Hearing loss
  • Amputation- Loss of limb
  • Neck Injuries
  • Broken Bones
  • Repetitive stress injuries

Sadly, there are times when the workplace injury leaves the injured worker with a severe permanent disability or caused their death.  This can be an overwhelming and stressful time for both the injured worker and their families.  But there are options available if this is the outcome of an injury.

If the injury was fatal there are survivorship benefits to help the loved ones of the deceased worker.  Some of the death benefits can include a portion of the departed employees’ weekly pay until a maximum has been met, burial costs, funeral costs, and possibly others. 

If the injured employee is left with a severe permanent disability, they also have access to benefits to help them.  If the accident resulted in certain long-term or permanent disabilities, injured workers may also be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. 

Your lawyer is retained on a contingency fee basis here. That means, you never really have to worry about payment unless you have won your case. At that point, the payment is calculated as a percentage of the settlement you are awarded.

Therefore, your consultation and all the prep work leading up to the eventual settlement require no upfront payment at all. It’s one of the reasons you have nothing to lose by opting to retain a workers’ compensation lawyer.

Experienced lawyers can help you with the process flow if you were injured and you are being denied your workers’ compensation claim. It’s all about advocating for you and ensuring you get what you are entitled to.

Legal inexperience is one of the key reasons many injured workers never see the settlements they deserve where both money and time off are concerned. Our team must do its best to ensure those settlement proceedings are handled in accordance with the law.

Earning an income is essential to both survival and comfort. Therefore, people are almost always going to jump at the chance to make a little more whenever possible. Since you are getting workers’ compensation and you have some free time, you may consider taking up another job until it’s time to return to work.

Though doing so may seem like a golden opportunity, you would be setting yourself up for some legal troubles by doing so. First, you should never file a false workers’ compensation claim. If you do so and then are caught working at another job while benefiting from your settlement, criminal charges can be brought against you.

Working at your existing job during the workers’ compensation is not out of the question, provided proper arrangements and modifications are made. It all depends on the evaluation handed down by the medical professional.

These include work restrictions and limits that intend to protect you from exacerbating your injury. The information may come along with adjustments that allow you to work in a modified fashion.

Note that if you have been medically determined to be completely unfit for work, your employer cannot force you to return.

This is more reason for you to have a workers’ compensation lawyer working for you. It’s essential in protecting your rights and providing you with sound advice to base your decisions on.

You may be interested in knowing what an average workers’ compensation settlement looks like, so you can know what to expect. However, giving you such a figure would be potentially misleading at best and grossly inaccurate at worst.

That’s because no matter how similar your case may look to another in the past, it all depends on the specifics. Why do you think the data-gathering portion is so important? A few of the critical factors include the severity of your injuries, the totality of your disability, and your expected recovery time frame.

While all these are variables, the workers’ compensation laws must also be considered. Requirements and entitlements defer, although the level of coverage may be broad.

Your best bet is to schedule a free consultation to have your case evaluated on its unique merits. Naturally, your attorney would then have some basis to establish what may be a fair settlement, which is likely going to guide the initial demand of the insurance company.

Workers’ comp benefits vary greatly depending on the type of accident, the cause of the accident, and the workers’ comp laws for the state the accident happened in. Let’s discuss a few benefits for workers that are commonly included.

Medical Bills: All of your medical expenses should be covered.  From an ambulance ride to the hospital to physical therapy to recover, and all medical costs in between.

Lost Wages:  While you are recovering and not able to work, you are able to recover lost wages. Depending on your situation, you should be able to get at least a portion of your average weekly pay. 

If the work-related accident caused a catastrophic injury such as an amputation, permanent injury, or hearing loss, you can be eligible for a lump-sum settlement as well. It is important to have an attorney who can help you achieve the maximum benefits for your injury. 

We Are Ready To Fight For You!

Altman-Nussbaum-Shunnarah Trial Attorneys is a top-tier firm boasting years of experience in personal injury cases, such as those revolving around workers’ compensation. We are simply here to defend your right and prevent exploitation.

To that end, we recommend scheduling a free consultation now, so your case may be evaluated by an expert workers’ compensation lawyer. Our attorneys will help you get the maximum compensation you deserve