Do I Need a Lawyer for My Workers’ Compensation Claim?

If you suffer an injury or illness while on the job, your life could be turned upside down by the devastating effects. If you require extensive medical treatment and a lot of time off work, you may need help with your workers’ compensation claim.

Situations Where You May Not Need to Hire a Lawyer

Not everyone injured on the job needs a lawyer’s help with their workers’ compensation claim. Some situations where you should be able to handle things yourself and get the benefits you deserve are:

• The injury or illness was clearly work-related.
• You don’t need ongoing medical treatment or therapies.
• You did not suffer any permanent damage or disability.
• You don’t need to take a long time off from work.
• The injury did not exacerbate a pre-existing injury like a bad back.

Simple injuries like cuts, bruises, sprains, and other minor incidents should be quick and straightforward to resolve.

File a report with your employer/supervisor as soon as possible after your injury. Request the medical help you need.

However, even if you experience a minor workplace injury, you can always consult a workers’ compensation attorney for a free consultation to see if you have a case or should proceed legally.

Situations Where You Should Hire a Lawyer for Your Workers’ Compensation Claim

Workers’ compensation rules can be complicated, and sometimes employers try to skirt the law to save themselves some money in the long run on premiums. Some things to watch out for are:

• If your employer denies your claim and won’t pay for any time off work or medical expenses. Some employers deny claims hoping the employee won’t appeal.
• Suppose your injury was so severe that you cannot return to work and require ongoing medical treatment. In that case, you might need help getting a payout from your employer’s workers’ compensation policy.
• You have a pre-existing condition that may complicate the on-the-job injury status.
• If your employer’s insurance offers you less than you deserve and the amount won’t even cover your medical expenses or the time off you needed to recoup, you will want to speak with a lawyer to get help with a better settlement.
• If you are mistreated at work as a result of filing a workers’ compensation claim, you may have a case.
• If an outside party caused the injury or illness (such as another driver), faulty equipment, etc you may have the makings of a strong case and should contact a lawyer immediately.

Even if none of these matches your situation exactly, workers’ compensation laws can be complex. You may just be more comfortable having someone represent you so you don’t make a mistake costing you benefits.

If you have difficulty with your situation or feel that you are being treated unfairly, contact a well-seasoned workers’ compensation attorney to get the benefits you deserve.