Suffering from a workplace injury leads to a lot of stress, much of which concerns you being able to pay your bills. The point of workers’ compensation is to give you a means to make ends meet during your recovery. Sometimes, though, you may need legal assistance. Here are some of the reasons that you might want to hire a workers’ compensation attorney.
Payment Concerns
There are instances in which your insurance claim may be denied or not paid in full. This will lead to frustration on your part, especially if you don’t understand the appeals process. An attorney will go to bat for you in these situations, challenging denials in court and increasing your chances of getting covered claims.
Permanent Disability
Sometimes an injury can be so severe that it leads to you suffering from a permanent disability. Whether the disability is partial or total, a workers’ compensation attorney will help you, the permanently disabled employee, receive the benefits to which you are entitled. Such benefits could include weekly payments or a lump sum in some states. Because the insurance company may want to avoid paying such substantial amounts, make sure you hire an advocate who will ensure you’re not shortchanged.
Maxing Out Benefits
One concern that may exist is that you already were on Social Security Disability (SSDI) before your workplace injury. This could mean that you don’t qualify for workers’ compensation. Every situation will be different, but this can mean delays when it comes to you receiving any type of compensation. Having an attorney will help you to navigate through the process in order to get what you deserve.
Third-Party Involvement
A third party’s involvement with your injury could be another complication that causes delays and further investigative efforts. Depending on the severity of your injuries, this could lead to you being asked to settle your case instead of receiving workers’ compensation. An attorney will be able to tackle these complicated issues so that you don’t have to worry about it on your own.
After a workplace injury, you want to be able to focus on recovering and paying your bills. If any of the above scenarios apply to you, hiring a workers’ compensation attorney may the best decision. You have options when it comes to making sure that you get the appropriate benefits. Look into hiring an attorney from a law firm like Gilbert, Blaszcyk & Milburn LLP to help you through the process.
About the Author: Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. She went to college at The Ohio State University where she studied communications. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and long walks in the park with her husky Snowball. You can find her on Twitter at @LizzieWeakley and on Facebook at facebook.com/lizzie.weakley.
