When you get injured on the job, you may be confused about your next move. Moreover, you might not be able to think straight when you are suffering from injuries. There are certain steps you should take after a workplace accident, but you may not know what they are.
Here is where an attorney can help you. Attorneys are professionals with years of experience. They have handled hundreds of cases similar to yours and know the best course of action. Some people can handle their claims alone. However, some cannot. You should be able to recognize the signs when you need an attorney.
Top signs you need a workers’ compensation attorney
- You got hurt at work.
This may be pretty obvious, but you should call an attorney if you were injured at your workplace. No matter how knowledgeable you may be about the subject, there are certain areas that only attorneys can handle gracefully. Moreover, people with no legal experience are more likely to make errors and put their benefits at risk.
- Your employer is delaying the claim.
When you experience a workplace injury, you must notify your employer about it as soon as possible. Once you inform them, they should get started with the process by filing a claim with the insurance company.
If your employer acts lazily or does not act quickly enough, it can significantly harm your claim. Having an attorney by your side can make your employer work faster.
- Your employer is interfering in your claim.
Normally, employers should not interfere with workers’ comp claims. When they receive the report of the accident, they should file a claim with the insurance company to get the process started. However, if they keep denying that you had an accident or that you are hurt, they are interfering with your claim. This interference can cost you your deserved compensation.
- You do not know the paperwork.
If you do not know the legal paperwork for workers’ comp benefits, you are not alone. Legal paperwork is not easy and usually requires the assistance of someone knowledgeable and experienced in the field. It also prevents you from filling the wrong firms, filling in wrong information, missing deadlines, and other costly errors. Moreover, filing the paperwork when you are still recovering can be stressful. An attorney can take this burden off of you.
- You have suffered a permanent disability.
Certain workplace accidents can result in permanent disabilities that can prevent you from going back to your old lifestyle again. You may never be able to get back to your workplace and earn an income. When this happens, an attorney can make sure you receive the benefits you deserve and nothing less.
