Compensation After An Injury At Work
Most employees have the right to collect workers’ compensation after they have been hurt on the job. Workers’ compensation benefits cover medical treatments, medications, replacement of lost wages after seven days, and/or total permanent disability payments for as long as an employee is unable to return to work.
As a government-mandated program administered through employers’ insurers or self-insured employers, workers’ compensation is intended to protect the interests of both employers and employees. Employees can typically get medical care right away after an on-the-job injury with no need to prove that an employer was at fault. Employers, in turn, can avoid litigation over workers’ accidental injuries.
Why Do I Need A Workers’ Compensation Attorney?
The rules and provisions of workers’ compensation sound good, but unfortunately, disputes arise regularly, such as in the following examples:
- A workers’ compensation insurer may state that an injury did not happen in the course of employment and deny a claim.
- An insurer may start paying for treatments and lost wage replacement but then stop prematurely before an injured worker is well enough to work again.
- An insurer may refuse to pay for medical treatments or expensive medications that a doctor strongly recommends.
If you have a workers’ compensation lawyer on your side when you experience trouble obtaining benefits, your attorney will be able to help you appeal a denied claim or resolve another controversy promptly. This is why we suggest that clients get legal counsel right away even if they are unsure whether they will need it.
What If Someone Else Was At Fault?
Your injury on the job may have happened because another individual or legal entity was at fault. A tool manufacturer, a delivery service person, an inspector or a subcontractor at your place of business may have caused your injury through negligence.
Separately from your workers’ compensation case, you may be able to bring a third-party liability claim against the negligent person or company. At Carey & Stewart, we regularly review our clients’ workers’ compensation cases to determine whether they can bring third-party liability claims as personal injury claims.
Get Started Now
To protect your rights – especially if injuries are serious or catastrophic – consult with an attorney soon after you are injured on the job. Initial consultations at Carey & Stewart are free. If we represent you, we will not collect attorney fees until we help you get benefits that an insurer had denied you.