Work injuries are incredibly difficult to deal with and can be super stressful for all parties involved. That being said, workers’ compensation helps to cover some of the costs associated with the medical recovery of those that are injured at work. Knowing when to hire an attorney and when a workers compensation attorney to help them manage a work comp claim is necessary can make a big difference.
What is Workers Comp?
It is helpful to first know what workers comp is. This is a type of insurance policy that employers are required to have to help protect both them and their employees should someone become injured at work. This insurance helps pay medical bills, time off work and more and helps make it possible for those injured on the job to take time off work to get better.
In order for a workers comp claim to be filed and successfully paid out, it has to be proven that the injury or accident is the fault of someone other than the person that was injured. If they were hurt as the result of unsafe working conditions, a piece of equipment or more, workers comp may pay out. When filing this type of claim, it is important to make sure that the event itself is well documented as is the medical care that it took to recover and heal.
Workers comp claims can be hard to prove and hard to move through the payout process as many insurance companies are going to work to disprove the claim and not pay out. If you are filing a claim, it may become necessary to involve an attorney to help with your workers comp claim.
When to Call a Lawyer?
Generally, if a claim moves through quickly and you are satisfied with the end result and payout, it is likely not necessary to hire an independent lawyer or law firm to handle the case. In many cases, the insurance company is going to move forward with the case and try to resolve it as quickly as they can so that they can start to work on other cases.
If you are meeting with resistance, if the workers comp claim is denied or if the settlement is far less than you feel that it should be, you may need a lawyer. A lawyer is going to be able to do a few things to help you get the settlement you need in a workers comp claim. First, they are going to be able to make sure that all the supporting documentation that is necessary is filed and ready to go. They can also help ensure that your claim is filed in a timely manner and that it is fairly reviewed.
They can help you understand the process and understand what is going on so that you are on top of the case and what is happening. Attorneys are also going to be able to better negotiate and work with the insurance company to better illustrate what happened and what sort of settlement is going to be needed for you to fully recover.
What Can a Workers Comp Settlement Be Used For?
Settlement money in terms of workers comp can be doled out to the recipient in a few different ways. First, they may pay your medical bills directly so that you never have to worry about what money is going to be used to pay for the treatment that you received. They may also pay directly to your employer if they covered any of the costs to help you get time off work or to go to the doctor.
This money may also be paid out to you as your salary would be each month until you are able to go back to work. Similarly, it may be paid out to you in increments until you reach a certain amount or are cleared to go back to work. The settlement process does depend on how serious the injury was, how long you are going to be gone, and who paid your medical bills while you were off. An attorney can help to negotiate your settlement and can help you determine what is going to work best for you.
In some cases, you may also be able to file for short term disability if you are going to be out of work for a very long time as a result of your injury. It is always best to speak with an attorney if the workers comp insurance company gives you any trouble when it comes to settling your claim. If you are new to workers comp it may be helpful to get an attorney right from the start.
Attorneys are going to be able to help you through every step of the process and help ensure that you are happy, that you have the money you need to pay medical bills and to take time off, and the support that you need through the entire process. A workers comp claim can be very difficult but with the right attorney you can be certain that you are getting a fair deal and that you are adequately represented from start to finish and that your case is going to be heard. Workers comp attorneys are waiting to help you argue your case and get a settlement so you can heal.