If you’ve been injured at work and have filed a workers’ compensation claim, you may ask yourself, “Do I need to hire a worker’s compensation lawyer?”
While some may think they can get by without an attorney, it’s always in your best interest to hire a workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as possible. Not only can they help you build your case and negotiate your lump-sum settlement, but in some cases, they can help you navigate and overcome unexpected challenges that could arise.
These challenges may not directly involve the filing of the workers’ compensation claim. Instead, they could be retaliation from your employer or the insurance company.
In these instances, you’ll need to know the four key signs that it’s time to hire a workers’ compensation lawyer, or you may face your compensation being delayed.
Together, let’s go over each major sign to help you determine the right time to hire a worker’s compensation lawyer.
Scenario One: You Experience Difficulty with Your Employer
This is a huge red flag that can’t be ignored. If you’re facing the following difficulties, you’ll need to hire a worker’s compensation lawyer immediately:
- The insurance company denies your claim
- Your insurance benefits are delayed
- Your settlement doesn’t cover all your injuries
A workers’ compensation lawyer will be able to work with you to ensure you receive all the benefits you’re entitled to. They’ll also defend your rights for you, so you won’t have to worry about undertaking an appeal alone.
Scenario Two: You Experience Employer Retaliation
In an ideal world, your employer would proactively work with you to receive the workers’ compensation funds you need to properly heal and financially recover. However, in some cases, things don’t happen so smoothly.
If your employer threatens or retaliates against you for filing a workers’ compensation claim, it’s time you contact a lawyer.
If you’re unsure whether you’ve faced employer retaliation, some common examples can include an employer committing the following actions:
- Threatening or giving you a demotion
- Cutting your hours
- Firing you after you fill your workers’ compensation claim
If this has happened or is happening to you, you may be entitled to punitive damages, as well. Having a workers’ compensation lawyer to fight for you could help you gain access to these funds, as well.
Scenario Three: Your Employer Refuses to Pay for all Job-Related Accidents
In most states, employers are required to cover all job-related accidents. That means if you get injured at work, your employer must cover expenses, such as hospital visits, emergency care, lab tests, and other expenses related to the accident you had on the job.
If your employer refuses to pay the expenses or only selects a few to pay for, we advise you to contact a workers’ compensation lawyer. They’ll help you sort out which expenses your employer is responsible for, and they’ll take the initiative to ensure that you receive the compensation necessary to cover these expenses.
Scenario Four: You Sustained Serious Medical Injuries
Some workplace incidents result in serious injuries that may prevent you from returning to work, especially if your accident leaves you partially or permanently disabled. If this is the case, you need to be aware that employers and insurance companies may try to avoid paying you as much as your medical expenses require.
Since these cases are very expensive for both entities, they might have to cover all your lost wages and medical expenses. So, in turn, they could be dishonest and try to reduce the amount of compensation you deserve.
That’s why we highly suggest hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer in these scenarios. You will always have someone monitoring how much you’re receiving and how much you’re owed. If you’re receiving social security benefits, you’ll want a workers’ compensation lawyer to help structure your compensation.
Get the Help You Need Today: Contact EMD
If your workers’ compensation claim isn’t going smoothly and you suspect you’re facing one of the scenarios listed above, contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
We’re your trusted team of legal advisors whose mission is to get you the most out of your workers’ compensation benefits. Let’s work together to achieve this.
