When you have been injured on the job, your employer will ask you to file a workplace incident report and identify all types of injuries you have sustained. This information will be used to determine the type and amount of workers compensation benefits you are eligible to receive, and you will need to file a claim to seek monetary compensation. Hiring a workers comp attorney to handle the claims-filing process offers a number of benefits, and there are several reasons to work with an attorney instead of working through the claims process alone.
Workers Compensation Claim Procedures
A qualified and experienced workers comp attorney knows what the state requirements and limitations are regarding workers compensation claims, and will be able to guide you through the claims-filing process. Most statues require employees who have been injured on the job to file a claim and report all injuries within a certain time period. If this time period lapses, you may not be eligible to receive a significant amount of compensation for your injuries.
In some cases, you are required to provide a general statement of the incident, but these requirements are not always enforced. Once the employer has been notified of the work-related injury, they will need to contact their workers comp insurer to begin the claims-filing process. Employers who hold up this process or neglect it altogether may be subject to a lawsuit.
In the event that the employer and their workers compensation insurance company denies the claim, you are entitled to file a claim with your state agency. In order to have your case reviewed, you may be required to submit supporting documentation and provide another detailed account about the incident. A workers comp attorney can assist you with this complicated process.
Benefits of Working with a Workers Comp Attorney
Working with a qualified workers comp attorney offers a number of benefits, and there are several things you can do to ensure that you will receive the maximum amount of compensation from your workers compensation claim. Some of the key benefits of working with a workers comp attorney include:
- Increasing the amount of compensation you will receive from the claim or settlement
- Calculating the amount you are eligible to receive, including lost wages, medical care, and loss of benefits
- Disputing a workers compensation claim and protecting your legal rights
- Determining when your workers comp benefits will start
- Working through the appeals if arbitration is not in your favor
A workers comp attorney can help to ensure you receive full compensation for damages incurred, and are fairly represented in court. Consider hiring a workers comp attorney when you have been injured from a workplace incident.
