The Top Signs You Need to Hire a Workers’ Comp Lawyer
By Space Coast Daily // January 28, 2020
On-the-job injuries happen every day in the US. In fact, in 2017 alone, 3 million Americans got hurt on the job.
If you’ve recently been hurt on the job, there’s a lot more you need to think about than just your recovery. One of the biggest decisions you need to make is whether or not you need to hire a workers’ comp lawyer.
How can you tell if you need to hire one?
Check out this guide to learn the top signs you need to hire a workers’ comp lawyer.
1. Your Employer Denies Your Claim
According to recent research, employers deny about 7 percent of workers’ comp claims. Even if you have a great relationship with your employer, you never know if they’re going to deny your claim.
Certainly, there are legal reasons for denying your claim. For example, an employer can deny your claim if you fail to report your injury, if the statutes of limitations have passed, or if there is no medical evidence of your claim.
However, employers also deny bona fide workers’ comp claims in hopes of not having to make a payout. If you’ve followed the correct legal steps and your employer still denies your claim, then it’s time to hire a workers’ comp lawyer.
2. You Haven’t Heard Any News About Your Claim
After you report your injury and file your claim, your employer’s insurer will take some time to review the case.
How long the insurer has to review the case will depend on the workers’ compensation laws in your state. For example, in California, insurers have 90 days to accept or reject a claim, whereas, in Nevada, they have 30 days.
If you don’t get a response from your employer, you may be able to collect a penalty. That said, a lack of response may also indicate it’s time to hire a lawyer.
3. The Settlement Offer Doesn’t Cover All of Your Losses
A lot of insurers will do whatever they can to lower how much they owe you for your claim. Typically, the amount they offer you will be lower than what you deserve.
Once the insurer comes up with an offer, it’s up to a workers’ compensation judge to either deny or accept that offer. Oftentimes, unless the amount offered is grossly unjust, the judge will give the stamp of approval.
To make sure you get what you deserve, it’s very important to hire a workers’ compensation attorney.
4. Your Settlement Doesn’t Cover All of Your Medical Bills
In addition to covering all of your income losses, your settlement should also cover all of your medical bills.
When it comes to receiving medical compensation, you generally have two options. You can either settle the right to get the payment benefits or, you can settle for a lump sum now which will cover future treatments.
Either way, if the medical settlement appears to be too low, you should contact a lawyer for help.
5. You Have Partial or Total Disability
A recent study found that a disability can reduce your income as much as 30 percent. And, that’s only referring to the first year. If your disability worsens, you could end up losing even more money.
For this reason, most states require companies to cover partial or total disability. If your injury caused you permanent or temporary disability and you’re not receiving additional compensation, then you should speak with a workers’ comp lawyer.
As you can see, there are many reasons as why you might need to hire a workers’ comp lawyer. If you have any questions, comment below.
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