Laws on workers’ compensation are designed to protect injured workers and employees. Such laws are meant to provide employees a quick, sure, and definite compensation, along with quick and efficient remedy for injuries or death they suffer in the course of their employment. The cost of such injuries is to be shouldered by the employers/industry itself and not by the individual workers. To sum it up, when an accident occurs in the workplace, it is the employer’s responsibility to make sure that the employee is properly taken care of and compensated for the injury or death. If you have suffered an injury at work and want to be compensated by your employer, you’ll get a better chance of filing a claim with the help of workers compensation lawyer Atlanta.
There are a number of injuries that may warrant a proper worker’s compensation claim. The work-related accident may involve a traumatic event such as a crash injury, a broken bone, a back injury caused by lifting heavy objects, traumatic brain damage, or even death. Other types of compensation claims include repetitive stress injuries that grow over time from repeated movements, such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
There are certain requirements that must be satisfied in order to file a proper workers’ compensation claim. An injured employee or worker must inform the employer within a specific period of time. Then they must file a specific form called an “Application for Adjustment of Claim”. There are other specific requirements that they need to submit as well.
When you choose to work with an experienced workers compensation lawyer Atlanta to discuss your case, you’ll find that most of them will not charge an upfront fee. Rather, they will investigate the circumstances of your injury or accident and see if they can file proper workers’ compensation claim in your state. A good lawyer will help you in any way possible, and even offer to file the claim on your behalf, without charging attorney’s fees unless you reach a successful settlement or award for your case.
If you are already being paid for lost time or if the medical bills from your injury are already being compensated, attorneys can confirm, free of charge, if you are receiving exactly what is owed to you.
An experienced workers compensation lawyer Atlanta will focus on the following tasks as part of their legal representation:
- Medical benefits –the lawyer will make sure that you are getting all the medical assistance you’re entitled to, such as therapy, treatment, and surgery (if needed). They will also guide you through the process to make sure that your medical bills are paid for by your employer.
- Future employment –depending on the kind of injury sustained, level of severity, and job description, some employees end up not being able to return to work at the same job position prior to the accident. In these cases, lawyers will also help arrange the right job training so you can get a new and better job that won’t worsen your injuries.
- Monetary compensation –experienced lawyers will help you deal with your medical issues, help you get the right medical treatment, provide for your future employment, and pursue the maximum amount of settlement or award on your behalf.
There are workers’ compensation laws that lets employees receive a certain amount of compensation for the injury received at work. All workers must be covered in a job when they have an accident. This is because most employees (especially those that have high-risk jobs) are required to carry a workers’ compensation insurance policy. Workers can benefit from this by receiving payment for their medical expenses, total disability benefits, permanent and partial disability benefits, temporary and total disability benefits, as well as death benefits.
Questions to Ask a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
When you have been injured in the workplace and is entitled to compensation, hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer will help protect your rights and ensure that you are getting the compensation you deserve.
When you schedule an initial consultation with a workers’ compensation lawyer, be sure to provide all the documents and relevant information related to your case. The information the lawyer gets from you will give them the chance to evaluate your case properly. The lawyer will then guide you through the next steps you need to take for your case. A professional and reliable lawyer will keep you updated all throughout the process. Be sure to ask your lawyer the following questions during your consultation:
- How many years have they been handling workers’ compensation claims?
- How much of their practice is focused on workers’ compensation cases?
- Can they represent you throughout the process, including administrative hearings, appeals and settlement?
- How does a claim move forward through the system?
- How do you pay their fees?
- Will you be charged for any expenses?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of your case?
- Who do you call in case you have questions?
- Do they foresee any problems with your case?
It’s important that you listen to your lawyer, follow their advice and cooperate with their instructions to have a successful outcome. You should also keep track of the progress of your case and keep communication lines open.
How to Choose the Best Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
It’s important that you choose a worker’s compensation lawyer that has had several years of experience in this field. You can ask friends, colleagues and even family members for recommendations. This is very important when choosing the right attorney.
More and more workers compensation lawyers advertise their services online. You can check on these websites and see if it highlights their experience in workers’ compensation cases and also if their practice includes personal injury law. Does their website include articles and other information involving workers’ compensation law? Do they provide free consultation?
While you should not base your decision on hiring a lawyer solely based on a website, it can be a great indicator of a lawyer’s experience, professionalism, and knowledge in that field.
A workers compensation lawyer Atlanta should be willing to share information about the law and provide free consultations. They should treat you with respect and address your concerns in the best way they can.