If you are wondering if you should hire an attorney for a workers’ compensation claim, it’s crucial to consider how legal representation could help your case. Workers’ compensation programs have strict guidelines applicants must follow, which can be difficult while attending to injuries and worrying about your financial situation.
As such, our law firm provides many different services, from gathering information and building cases to filing paperwork on time and speaking on behalf of our clients. We also navigate difficult situations and advocate for our clients to receive the financial support they seek. While you focus on recuperating, we give our attention to your workers’ compensation application and handle any issues that may arise.
A Workers’ Compensation Attorney Can Guide You Through Complications
As a general rule, the more complexity your workers’ compensation case involves, the more you could benefit from an attorney’s help. For example, cases where the facts about the accident are in doubt or the level of your injuries is in dispute can result in a highly complex case.
If Your Employer Disputes Your Claim
The state agencies that oversee workers’ compensation claims and rules list the many steps an injured worker must follow when applying. The first one generally involves reporting the injury to your employer as soon as is reasonably possible. They can then initiate the first steps in your claim.
However, if your employer disputes whether you made your report in a timely manner, you could end up losing your right to benefits. Your employer may also dispute your claim by:
- Suggesting the injury is related to work
- Blaming the injury on you, such as showing up to work intoxicated
- Arguing that your injury was pre-existing
Having an attorney on your side can help you present facts in the case to prove this truly is a work-related injury and you qualify for benefits. For example, our team can interview witnesses on your behalf and speak with your doctors to drill down to the truth in the case. We stand up for your rights against your employer and keep your case on track to meet the designated deadlines and requirements.
If Your Employer Does not Have Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Every state has regulations regarding which businesses are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. For example:
- In North Carolina: businesses with at least three employees
- In South Carolina: businesses with at least four employees
Failure to have this insurance can leave an employer subject to fines. While not every worker qualifies for workers’ compensation benefits, many do. If your employer legally should have coverage, but doesn’t, our team could help you take action to hold them accountable and get the benefits you need.
The employer may try to dispute whether it needs workers’ compensation insurance. In the meantime, this leaves you accumulating medical bills and missing time at work, leaving you without income. Our lawyer can help you to defend your rights in a situation like this.
If the Workers’ Compensation Insurer Denies Your Claim
Even if you complete every required step along the way when filing the workers’ compensation claim, you may find that the insurer denies you. Often, this is due to errors or inconsistencies in your application.
Depending on when you reach out to our firm for help, our attorneys could help you prepare the paperwork to ensure the information is complete, accurate, and consistent. We can also help you navigate the appeals process if you have already received a claim denial.
Other Ways an Attorney From Our Firm Can Help Your Case
Suffering an injury at work can be mentally and financially overwhelming–not to mention, painful. Hopefully, this is the first and only time you have to go through something like this. However, it can be tough for you to understand all of the processes and steps that you need to take. You do not want to miss a key step that could cause the case to turn. Our team is here to help.
Because our lawyers work with these types of cases regularly, we know how to keep the process moving forward. We will do everything in our power to prevent your case from falling apart on a technicality.
In a workers’ compensation case, it may sometimes feel like no one is listening to your side of the story. However, you can feel confident that our lawyers will make sure the other side understands your experience and hears your concerns. We stick to the facts and will use them to show you have a legitimate claim for benefits.
Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me 828.286.3866
Our Workers’ Compensation Lawyers are Ready to Advocate for You
When facing a difficult situation with your workers’ compensation claim, the team at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, is ready to represent you. We will work tirelessly to help you move toward the claim you deserve.
For a free case review, contact us as soon as possible at (828) 286-3866.