No matter how convenient handling your own work injury claim may seem, your employer and their insurer will move hell and high water to make sure you get the least benefits possible. This is where having your own attorney on your side will make a tremendous difference.
There are plenty of reasons you’ll want to have your own attorney when filing a workers’ compensation claim:
To Provide Legal Protection
If you work on your own injury claim, you will be talking directly to the insurance adjuster, and you may not be knowledgeable enough to protect your rights. They may even make you believe that your claim is not legitimate . With a lawyer, these people will be forced to treat you fairly.
To Assess Your Case
Unless you’re a pro, it can be so hard to determine the worth of your workers’ comp case. All cases are different, and you can’t be comparing your claim to others just because you see similarities. In contrast, a lawyer, with all their legal know-how and experience, will be able to give a proper and accurate assessment.
To Make Sure You Receive All Due Benefits
In all workers’ compensation cases, the claimant’s average weekly wage is one of the most crucial factors involved. Such average will dictate how much compensation you should get while you’re not working. If the insurance firm under-evaluates your average weekly income, you will receive considerably less than owed. Having a lawyer ensures this will be avoided.
To Find Third Party Liability, If Any
If another person’s negligence – for instance, a coworker’s or your employer’s – is behind your injury, you may be entitled to file a civil lawsuit on top of your workers’ comp case. It doesn’t have to be one or the other. But an attorney’s help will come useful when it comes to deciding whether or not there is indeed a third party liability lawsuit that may be filed.
Many people forgo hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer, thinking they could not afford one. Fact is, most of these lawyers are hired on a contingency arrangement, which means you don’t have to pay any up front costs. You just have to sign a contract stating, among others, that you will give them a certain portion of what you eventually receive as compensation, if indeed your case succeeds. Still, you have to clear this up with your potential lawyer before moving forward. Some will charge up front for miscellaneous expenses, like doc stamps and photocopying. After all, you can only hire someone whose expectations you can surely meet.