Everyone has the right to be protected from hazards and injuries at work but, sadly, workplace accidents remain relatively common. To ensure that people can access assistance following a workplace injury, most employers in the U.S. are required to take out workers’ comp insurance. This means that, providing you meet the relevant criteria, you’ll be able to make a claim for workers’ compensation if you sustain an injury due to your job or develop an occupational illness.
However, being entitled to workers’ comp and actually receiving it aren’t necessarily the same thing!Not only is the claims process complex, but there are also numerous procedural requirements that you need to fulfil. You’ll be expected to notify your employer of an injury or illness within a certain timeframe if you want to claim workers’ comp, for example.
Can You Make a Claim Alone?
Technically, employees can make a claim for workers’ comp without legal assistance, but this isn’t always advisable. Unfortunately, many people miss out on the compensation they’re entitled to simply because they try to make a claim without seeking legal advice. Inadvertently missing deadlines, supplying the wrong information or even trying to claim the wrong type of workers’ comp can mean that claims are denied or delayed.
Of course, being denied workers’ comp is the last thing you want to deal with when you’re recovering from a workplace injury or dealing with an occupational illness. That’s why it’s important to seek legal advice and get professional assistance when you’re pursuing a workers’ comp claim.
How Can a Lawyer Help?
A workers’ comp lawyer can help to confirm that you’re eligible to receive compensation under the scheme and handle your claim on your behalf. As well as ensuring that the procedural requirements are met, your lawyer will be able to tell you what type of benefits you’re entitled to. In addition to this, you can rely on your legal team to collate the evidence needed to support your claim, which will reduce the chances of it being denied when it’s submitted.
If you’ve already tried to make a claim for workers’ comp and it has been denied, there’s no need to panic. A personal injury lawyer can help you to appeal the decision and increase your chances of obtaining the workers’ compensation you deserve.
What Does Workers’ Comp Cover?
When an injury affects your ability to work, it has a major impact on your income and, therefore, your life as a whole. Workers’ comp is designed to replace lost income, up to a certain amount, but this isn’t the only thing it covers. When you make an accurate workers’ comp claim, you can include your medical costs arising from the workplace injury or illness, for example.
While claiming workers’ compensation might seem straightforward initially, it’s easy to make mistakes or miss things out when you’re submitting your claim. With legal assistance, however, you can simplify the claims process and make sure that you get the maximum amount of compensation you’re entitled to following a workplace injury or illness.
