Situations that might require a workers’ compensation lawyer
While there is a lot that can be done to prevent accidents in the workplace, it is often impossible to completely avoid them. Thankfully, the worker’s compensation system is designed to be easy for workers to navigate without the need for a legal representative, so not everybody who suffers a workplace injury will need to hire a lawyer. If you have been injured at work but your claim is quite straightforward, then you will usually be able to easily handle it on your own. But things don’t always run that smoothly, and some workers may find that hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer is the best option for them.
Claim disputes
If you have filed a workers’ compensation claim that is now being disputed by the insurance company, it may be worth hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer such as RB Law Firm. You will benefit from working together with an experienced and knowledgeable lawyer who can help you challenge the insurance company’s position and increase your chance of a successful claim. Lawyers can help with a range of processes in this situation including finding expert witnesses who can be hired to provide additional evidence to support your claim, requesting an independent medical examination, and taking depositions.
Pre-existing health conditions
A workers’ compensation claim can get tricky for people who have pre-existing health conditions, especially if you have been involved in a workplace injury that has worsened your condition. This can make it more difficult to get your claim approved as the insurance company may argue that the injury is down to your previous condition rather than what happened in the workplace. This is especially the case if you are claiming regarding an injury that has developed at work over time, rather than happened quickly as the result of an accident. In this case, a lawyer can help with making the facts clearer and getting the evidence you need to prove that the injury you have suffered would have occurred whether or not you had the pre-existing condition.
Denied claim
A workers’ compensation claim may be denied for several reasons. Common denial reasons include the insurance company arguing that your injury was not work-related, or denials regarding the claim filing time. While you can appeal any denials through the workers’ compensation system, you will benefit from working with a lawyer who can help with gathering more evidence, filing legal paperwork, and presenting your evidence at hearings.
You can’t work any more
If you have found yourself in a situation where your injury at work has left you unable to work again in the future, it’s a good idea to get a workers’ compensation lawyer in your corner. A lawyer can help with maximizing the benefits that you are awarded and ensuring that they are structured in a way that you will get the support you need long into the future.
While straightforward workers’ compensation claims are usually easy to navigate alone, a good lawyer is worth investing in if you have a complex claim and want to get the best outcome.