For those injured on the job receiving the compensation to which they are entitled can be a nightmare. State law dictates that anyone who is injured at their workplace, regardless of whose fault it was, is entitled to compensation for medical expenses and lost wages. Medical care can be provided by the physician of choice, which cannot be dictated by the insurance company paying out benefits. Many workers are not fully aware of the rights that they have, and insurance companies often take advantage of this fact.
Workers Compensation Attorneys know the law inside and out, and can help their clients to understand their rights and gather evidence in addition to providing courtroom and pre-trial representation. In order to receive the benefits to which victims are entitled, sufficient medical proof must be available to indicate the severity of the injury, illness, or disability. This can be in the form of medical records, medical opinions offered by relevant physicians, and depositions of pertinent medical experts. Having this proof drastically increases the chances of receiving appropriate workers compensation benefits, and having an attorney to help obtain and organize it can make a big difference.
When insurance companies are hesitant to pay out the full value of claims, Workers Compensation Attorneys negotiate on behalf of their clients and come up with adequate settlement agreements outside of court. They must take into account factors such as extent of injuries, disability ratings, functional limitations resulting from the workplace injury, previous wages, and the cost of all related medical treatment. Often insurance companies attempt to offer inappropriately low settlements in an effort to manipulate victims into taking less than they deserve. Those who have attorneys on their side are better able to understand exactly how much their claim is actually worth and to end up receiving the full amount in out of court settlements.
Under some circumstances the case will need to go to trial, in which case an attorney will present his or her client’s case to the judge and file any necessary motions or appeals. For those who have been hurt on the job and aren’t sure what to do next, it’s important to find a lawyer as soon as possible. Visit chrisrichardattorney.com or contact his office via Google+ for more information and to schedule a free consultation today.
