In a nutshell, a worker’s compensation attorney will help you to navigate the ins and outs of a more complex compensation claim. Filing an incident report and a compensation claim are usually straightforward steps. As the case goes through investigation it may become much more complex.
If your injuries are minor and your employer or insurer is not denying your claim, you can eschew hiring a lawyer. However, some situations might be too complex for you to handle without legal help.
What Does a Workers’ Compensation Attorney Do?
Appeal a Denied or Delayed Claim
Most compensation claims should be filed within 30 days of injury occurrence. There are also certain components crucial to a compensation claim.
Employers and insurance companies can incorrectly deny a claim based on failure to meet these technicalities. An experienced workers’ comp lawyer would be able to appeal the denial and get a settlement for you.
Help You Protect Your Rights
The job of the claims department is to investigate a claim and if possible find a way to pay the least compensation possible and in some cases nothing at all.
The role of a workers’ comp attorney is to ensure you know your rights and you don’t settle for less. In cases involving severe injuries that inhibit work, the lawyer also makes sure that the worker is properly compensated for medical costs and lost income.
File a Third Party Claim
In cases where the negligence of third parties contributed to the injuries, a lawyer will file a third-party claim. This type of claim enables the worker to claim damages both from their employer and the third party involved.
Assist in Cases of Employer Harassment
Sometimes workers will be harassed or pressured when they report injuries at work. This is illegal and workers have a right to report the injuries and receive their due compensation.
A workers’ compensation attorney would be able to support and advise the client on how to stand firm in their claim and deal with the harassment.
Assist in Cases Involving Social Security Disability Benefits
If applying for social security disability benefits, you should have a lawyer on board. They will ensure that even though the benefits reduce your workers’ compensation, you still get the best combination of both that will aid recovery,
The Cost of Workers Compensation Attorney Services
Many lawyers that deal with workers’ compensation charge for their services based on contingency. Contingency means that instead of you paying upfront, the lawyer will take a percentage of your compensation if you win. The amount varies between 10-40 percent.
Other lawyers bill by the hour and their rates will depend on location and expertise. The cost is one of the things to ask upfront during your first consultation.
Workers’ Comp Lawyer in Gainesville, GA
Personal injury lawyers often have a broad docket including worker’s compensation cases. What is important when consulting or hiring a workers’ comp lawyer is their experience in and frequency of handling such cases.
Stewart Melvin & Frost has expert and seasoned personal injury lawyers in Tampa and workers’ comp lawyers in Gainesville, GA. Contact us for your first consultation, to understand your options under workers’ compensation law.
