Worker's Compensation
Do you need a lawyer when injured at work?
Work place accidents
can result in a wide variety of injuries. Each work place accident is unique
and deserves independent consideration. Work place accidents or injuries
are covered under the broad based term, workers' compensation
Workers' compensation is a system designed to provide medical care and treatment, as well as certain monetary benefits for individuals who have been hurt on the job. Generally speaking, employers pay premiums for workers' compensation insurance.
The cost for this coverage is directly tied to the number of claims filed against the particular employer and the total cost of each individual claim. Workers' compensation insurance is extremely expensive for employers.
Therefore, it is in the employers' interests to avoid or minimize workers' compensation claims as much as possible. Such a philosophy is in direct conflict with the goals of an injured worker which are to receive prompt and appropriate medical care and treatment for their injuries, and to receive monetary of compensation while they are healing but unable to return to work.
There are also state agencies involved in the processing of workers' compensation claims. The interests of these state agencies are not necessarily the same as those of the injured worker. Due to the adversarial nature of this system, a lawyer is often necessary to protect the rights and interests of the injured worker.
Workers' compensation is also complicated. It is controlled by a series of statutes, guidelines, and resolutions. Often times, that which appears simple is actually a very complicated procedural problem. A person unfamiliar with this system's rules and regulations simply does not understand what is required to prove his or her case. More often than not, their actions do more harm than good.
A lawyer helps to guide an injured worker through the workers' compensation system in order to get the benefits they deserve. This can greatly reduce an injured worker's stress.
After all, being out of work and without a paycheck is stressful enough.
Trying to negotiate the maze that is workers' compensation without an appropriate legal guide can raise an injured worker's stress to nearly unbearable levels. The good news is lawyers accept workers' compensation cases on a contingent fee basis. In other words, there is no fee unless the injured worker receives a monetary award. Typically such fees are 1/3 of any amount recovered by the attorney.
A lawyer who handles workers' compensation cases on a regular basis understands the workers' compensation system. He or she understands what evidence is needed to prove the injured worker's case. He or she will make sure that the injured worker receives the best possible medical care and treatment for their injuries as promptly as the system allows.
Do you need a lawyer when you receive an injury in the work place?
Most likely a lawyer will ultimately be necessary. The sooner he or she becomes familiar with your case, the more effective they can be. So, call a qualified workers' compensation attorney and set up a free consultation as soon as practical after your injury.