What To Do If You Are Injured On The Job
Perhaps you are a lot like me. You are the type of person that does not like to sit behind a desk all day at a boring job or work indoors in a factory. I’m the type of individual that prefers the open air and feeling the wind against my skin. I am also very athletic and enjoy cycling for fun on a daily basis. Therefore, combining the two would be the perfect career choice for me. I discovered my dream job, which was a bicycle messenger for a popular food service in the city. Things were going great until I was injured on the job. The fact is that these things happen. Here’s what to do if this should happen to you too.
Do You Need A Lawyer?
If you want to get full compensation for your injuries, you need to take this step and hire an experienced workers’ comp attorney, like Schwartz Law Firm. Surprisingly, a lot of injured workers decide that they do not require an experienced legal mind to defend their rights because the employer or another person in management told them that it was only a minor injury and the company would handle all aspects of the claim. Here is something to consider. The employer has a legal team on their side to protect their interest. Even in a minor incident, you should hire an attorney to protect your rights and any hidden traps set by lawyers for the employer.
Hire An Attorney Immediately After An Injury
Perhaps your employer assures you that you do not need an attorney for your claim. Later on, things get really complicated. Your employer actually denies your worker’s comp claim and you are left without any type of compensation for your injuries. In another scenario, your employer does settle your claim. However, the amount is not enough to cover lost wages or your injuries. Or in a case similar to mine, an employer denied the claim filed by the worker because he was injured on the job by a motorist that was not connected with the company. An experienced attorney has the experience and legal education to handle this situation. Certainly, you do not and would suffer at the mercy of the company’s legal team.
More Attorney Advantages
The surprising fact is that a lot of people assume that they will need to pay the attorney up front. This is not true in most circumstances. Generally, the attorney will take a percentage of the benefits that the injured worker receives. It is also important to note that there are time constraints on when to notify your employer about the injury and contact an attorney. The injured worker has 120 days to report the injury to their employer, in order to file the claim. An attorney will supply the injured party with several very notable advantages that should guide the individual to winning their claim. Here are a few to consider.
- The attorney with collect medical evidence and place it in a report
- Obtain testimonies of medical professionals
- Guide and advise you through the entire legal process
- Represent you in court
- Take depositions that back up your claim
- Negotiate settlements
Selecting A Good Attorney
The fact is that the Internet is flooded with a wide variety of attorney’s that vary in their skills and ability to handle your claim properly. Certainly, great attorneys share a lot of similar qualities. However, it is also a good idea to trust your gut feeling. For example, do you feel comfortable with the attorney? Is the attorney someone that you could talk openly and freely with about any subject matter? The lawyer should always keep all communication lines open and contact you with important updates on your claim. A good attorney also explains in detail any fees and the structured settlement that you are should receive. Finally, a good lawyer should also have a proven track record. In other words, they’ve settled a high number of cases successfully for their clients.
If you are injured on the job, hire an attorney as soon as possible to make sure that your claim is handled successfully.