No one wants or expects to be injured at work. Unfortunately, it happens every day. In 2013, people reported more than 327,000 work related sprains, strains and muscle tears. That same year say 190 injuries from slips, trips and falls. There were at least 170,450 reported back injuries. Workers comp programs exist to help employees who have been hurt doing their job. Workers comp programs provide the money to pay for 100% of an employee’s medical costs related to these injuries. They also pay out cash benefits for people who need to take time off, after a waiting period that can last from three to seven days. The costs associated with workers comp programs account for about 1.6% of overall spending by United States employers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you have been hurt, you may need help getting those benefits.
- Workers comp lawyers can help with your initial claim. Filing a workers comp claim is not as simple as filling out paperwork and submitting it to the right office. You need to have supporting documentation from doctors and other medical personnel, there are deadlines to consider and the paperwork is often complicated and confusing. If you are filing for benefits after someone has died at work, workers compensation lawyers can see what kind of benefits the surviving family members can expect to receive. They can also help get those payment checks started.
- They can help explain exactly what benefits you should expect to get. The rules and regulations that govern workers comp programs vary from state to state. If you are talking to a Phoenix workers compensation lawyer, they can tell you what benefits you will be eligible to receive in Arizona but may not have that information for New York, for instance. You may be entitled to more than your employer is offering and more than you expect. Good workers comp lawyers cam help you navigate the process and get everything you deserve.
- You may need to prove your injuries. There are times when this is the easiest part of the workers comp process. Say you are working on the floor room of a super store. You go to help a customer with a larger item, it falls off the shelf and knocks you out. There are tons of witnesses. It was even caught on the security camera. This is a slam dunk but what if it is not. Say you are a delivery driver for a delivery service. You injure yourself carrying a package, no one is around to see it. How do you prove you were hurt at work? This is where a good workers comp lawyer come in.
- What do you do if your case is denied? This is another area where a workers comp law firm can help. You should always appeal any denial of a workers comp claim. You have a limited time in which you can file that claim and there is more complicated and potentially confusing paperwork to contend with. If you do not file within the right period of time, you will lose your right to appeal at all. Some employers claim that the worker in question injured themselves. Your workers compensation lawyer can help you navigate the appeals process and file a successful appeal.
- You may need witnesses and your workers comp lawyer can help with that. If you have a hearing for your workers comp case, you may need to find witnesses, prepare them and bring them to your hearing. A good workers comp lawyer can do all of this for you. These witnesses can be your coworkers, medical personnel and others who either saw you become injured or attest to the extent of your injuries. They will also know the questions that need to be asked.
- They can help determine when the time has come to settle. If your employer makes you an offer, the lawyer can tell if it is a good enough one to take.
If you have been hurt at work, you deserve help from the workers comp program. A lawyer can help you get that.
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