If you’ve endured an injury while at work, there are several reasons you should rely on legal representation, whether injuries are due to poor working conditions, lack of safety gear, or any other form of negligence.
Workers’ comp lawyers are highly trained and can heighten your chances of receiving fair benefits following a workplace injury.
But if you want to know the specifics of why legal representation is worthwhile, we’ve listed the many reasons you should hire a lawyer like Washington DC attorney, LaRuby May.
1. Assess Eligibility
Not all employees are eligible for workers’ comp benefits. But filing a claim as soon as possible is essential if you are eligible. However, if you aren’t eligible, filing a claim could be a mistake.
Because there are exceptions for workers’ comp benefits, it’s wise to consult a lawyer before filing a claim, so you can determine your eligibility before potentially putting your career in jeopardy with a false claim.
2. Legal Requirements
Once you have determined eligibility, you must meet all the relevant legal requirements according to state laws.
Some legal requirement examples are being able to validate that injuries are, in fact, work-related, reporting the injury to an employer by a specific deadline, and consulting a qualified healthcare practitioner to seek treatment for injuries.
But because different states have different legal requirements, it’s important to hire a local lawyer.
3. Claiming The Right Benefits
There are different kinds of benefits in a compensation claim. Unless you hire a lawyer, you won’t know if you are eligible for medical benefits, vocational benefits, or even disability benefits. A lawyer will be able to identify which benefits you are legally allowed to claim.
In most states, you can claim medical benefits right just about immediately. You can also claim disability benefits after missing work for a certain number of days.
Nevertheless, your attorney will walk you through the process of claiming the right benefits for the right length of time. With a lawyer, you can also be sure you’ll receive your benefits as soon as possible.
4. Claiming Enough Benefits
Lawyers can calculate the accurate value of claims. Unfortunately, one of the biggest mistakes professionals make when claiming without legal representation is not claiming enough benefits. While knowing which benefits to claim, you must also know how much to claim as well.
So, if you want to ensure that you are receiving the benefits you need and deserve, it’s best to consult a lawyer right away.
5. Dealing With Insurance
Filing a claim doesn’t mean you’ll automatically receive benefits. It’s a bit more complicated than that. In most cases, companies rely on workers’ compensation insurance.
As a result, receiving benefits means claiming from your employer’s insurer. And if you’ve ever claimed from any of your insurance policies, you already know that the claims process can be time-consuming and frustrating.
Relying on a lawyer means you don’t need to worry about any of these challenges, your lawyer will handle the process for you while you recover from your injuries.
6. Negotiating A Fair Settlement
One of the most effective ways to ensure you receive a fair settlement offer is to rely on an expert legal practitioner.
Negotiating fair benefits can be tricky without a lawyer because insurance companies might refuse to pay workers for a variety of reasons. In some cases, insurers accuse employees of causing their injuries.
An experienced attorney can prove that your injuries are due to negligence. You will need to give your attorney specific evidence to support your claim.
This evidence includes medical records and bills, an accident report, and employment records. Your lawyer will use this evidence to build your case for you.
7. Pursuing Additional Compensation
When you are injured at work, you’ll have the options of filing a personal injury claim, filing for social security disability benefits, or claiming compensation.
Because there is more than one option available, a lawyer will help you assess all the options and then build a strategy to ensure you receive maximum compensation.
In addition to the above, relying on an experienced lawyer will also give you the peace of mind you need for a smooth recovery journey.
Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the stress and many challenges of the claim process, rest assured that an experienced attorney is handling everything for you.
Conclusion
If that’s not enough to convince you that you should rely on a lawyer, an attorney will also increase your chances of receiving benefits. Claiming without a lawyer could jeopardize your benefits.