If you are injured on the job, and that injury is so serious that it causes you to miss time from work and have medical or therapy bills, you are entitled to compensation from your employer. All employers in the US must carry workers' compensation insurance, so if an employee is injured, the employer will be able to cover the expenses that are a result of the injury. If the injury is a minor one, and your employer isn't disputing any payments, there is nothing to worry about. But, there may be times when you don't get what you are entitled to. This is where workers' compensation attorneys come in. They can fight for you to make sure that you get everything you are entitled to. Here are some of the situations in which workers' compensation attorneys can help you.
Employer Retaliates against You
While it is against the law for any employer to retaliate against an employee who has filed an injury compensation claim, many do it anyway. Some employers make the work environment so hostile that the injured party quits. Ways they do this are cutting back on your hours, not treating you fairly, using harsh language when speaking with you, and even demoting or firing you. If this happens, a workers' compensation attorney will ensure that you get the benefits you are entitled to, as well as take your employer to court over the retaliation.
Denial of Your Claim
If your claim for workers' compensation is denied, the next step in the process is to file an appeal through the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board. There is a lot of tedious paperwork involved that can get very complicated, and a workers' compensation attorney will be able to sort through everything and make sure that all of the documents are correctly filled out. He or she will be able to find any mistakes that may have been made with the original claim filed, and appeal on those grounds if necessary.
You Aren't Getting the Right Payments
Even if your claim is approved by the insurer for your employer, there is still the chance that you won't be paid the right amounts for medical care, lost wages, and so forth. Depending on the state where you live, your employer may be legally obligated to pay all of your medical bills, and part of your lost wages. If you are not receiving the payments you should be, your workers' compensation attorney will take action to force your employer to meet all legal requirements.
