How to Decide if You Need to Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

Do you need an attorney to file your workers’ compensation claim? If you’re not sure whether you should hire a lawyer, take a look at the questions to ask first.

Is Your Injury Severe?

You may have a severe injury that could impact your ability to work in the future. If you need permanent total or partial disability benefits or require ongoing medical/therapy-related care, you may need to hire an attorney. While it is possible to file a claim without professional help, a lawyer can help you to get the payments you’re entitled to — especially if the insurance company doesn’t want to accept your claim.

Did Your Employer Deny Your Claim?

Even if you’ve gone through the steps to properly file your claim and feel that it’s valid, your employer may not. What should you do next? Before you call your employer to protest their decision, contact a lawyer.

It’s possible your employer made an error, doesn’t have all the information, or thinks you won’t appeal their decision. If you have no plans to let the claim go, leave the appeal to a professional. They have the expertise and experience necessary to guide you through this process and get you the compensation you deserve.

Did the Insurer Deny Your Claim?

Your employer isn’t the only party who can deny a claim. The insurance company that should pay for your medical treatment or physical rehabilitation services may not agree to compensate you (or the healthcare providers). Like with an employer-denied claim, you’ll need to appeal this denial to receive your benefits. An attorney can help you to gather the necessary information and file the appeal.

Do You Understand the Law?

Workers’ compensation may entitle you to wage replacement benefits, payment for medical treatment, payment for vocational rehabilitation, or other benefits. If you’re not sure what your injury entitles you to, how to file a claim, what type of documentation you need, or what to do next, you need a lawyer.

A workplace injury comes with a host of problems. From physical pain to the emotional toll an injury can take on you and your loved ones, you don’t need the additional stress a claim can cause. If you don’t understand workers’ comp laws or the procedural aspects of filing a claim, an attorney can increase your comfort level and make the process easier.

Do You Plan to Apply for Social Security Benefits?

While you can collect workers’ comp and social security benefits, disability payments will reduce the amount of social security income you receive. The U.S. Social Security Administration’s formula for calculating payments is used to figure out the total reduction of benefits.

If you’re not sure how social security will impact workers’ compensation payments, a lawyer can help you to understand potential reductions. The attorney can also look for ways to minimize total dollar loss based on your workers’ comp settlement agreement.

Did Your Employer Retaliate?

Has your employer in any way discriminated against you or made it difficult (if not impossible) for you to return to work? There are laws against employer retaliation towards employees who have workers’ comp claims.

No one should fear job loss, reduced hours, reduced workload, or another similar penalty for filing a claim. If your employer makes you feel uncomfortable, contact an attorney. The attorney can help you to understand your rights and what the employer can and can’t do.

Do you have a work-related injury or illness? If so, you may need to speak with an attorney before taking the next step. Contact Walz Law Office for more information on how to file a claim or appeal a denial.