Looking for an expert compensation lawyer to help you with a claim? Compensation law is filled with documentation requirements, deadlines, evidence and more. In other words, it’s wise to hire someone to help you out.
One wrong move and you could potentially waste a lot of your own precious time and money on a case that might not even be worth it. Hiring a good attorney means you’ll have help from a professional who knows the ins and outs of compensation law.
In this article, we’ll give you the top seven reasons to hire a compensation lawyer. When hiring a workers compensation lawyer, they will:
1. Help you to claim
When you’re making a compensation claim, you need to be aware of when and how to do it, as well as ensure that you have all the necessary documentation that needs to be filed with it. A seasoned compensation lawyer will know exactly what is required.
First, they will determine whether or not your case is worth claiming for, and they will also know how to strengthen your claim. The deadline for submitting a compensation claim for injury is six months after you sustained the injury. Should you miss your deadline, you will be required to apply for an exemption, which is only granted in serious situations and can be a lengthy and difficult process. Your attorney will know all the deadlines and will help ensure you attend all important dates.
2. Help you make the best claim
A good compensation lawyer will have extensive knowledge and experience and will, therefore, be able to properly advise you on your rights to compensation and how to make the best claim. In some cases, when you’re injured at work, you’ll be entitled to bring a claim against other parties aside from your employer, which will often make it a stronger claim than the basic worker’s compensation claim. Your lawyer will be able to identify these circumstances and help you strengthen your claim.
3. Protect your rights
There are many cases where insurance companies look to decline claims on whatever grounds possible, and they can try and do this by arranging “independent” medical assessments. A good lawyer knows that this can only be done under certain circumstances when it’s required by law. Insurance providers will try to put pressure on you to undergo these tests, but it is your lawyer’s job to protect and ensure you are not subject to these “independent tests” unless it is legally required.
4. Assess your percentage Whole Person impairment (WPI)
The whole person impairment scale is a rating system that is used to determine the amount of damage that has been caused by your injuries, either physical or psychological. The amount you get paid out will depend on the calculation as well as the year the injury happened. This is one area where you should definitely have a lawyer as they will help determine the most accurate WPI percentage and ensure you are compensated accordingly.
5. Help review all your statements
Before you hand over your statement to an insurer, always ensure you have a lawyer review it. Keep in mind that an insurer is always looking for a reason to decline a claim, so once you have made your claim and handed over your statement, they will appoint an investigator. Having your lawyer review all your statements will help ensure that the investigator cannot find fault with what you have said to the insurer, and this minimises the chances of your claim being declined.
6. Ensure you are compensated and paid correctly
There are many hoops that an insurer will try to make you jump through to get your compensation or find a way to deny your claim, but your lawyer will know exactly what is needed and what is not allowed. Should your insurer tell you to do something that is not allowed, your lawyer will challenge them on your behalf.
Once your compensation claim has been approved and payment commences, your lawyer will also help ensure that you are being paid the correct amount, as it’s common for insurers to “make a mistake” when paying out.
7. Ensure you recover fully before returning to the workplace
When hiring seasoned workers compensation lawyers should advise you on handling aggressive tactics, one of which is the insurer putting pressure on employees to get back to work as soon as possible. There are many reasons why people would need more time to recover, be it physiological or psychological, before going back to work. This is where your attorney can help you and your doctor handle this situation should it arise.
Final Thoughts
If you’re injured while on the job, you need to take the situation very seriously. Without the right help, you run the risk of being taken advantage of and not getting enough compensation, or anything at all. So, even if you feel confident that you have a strong case, most insurance companies will put up a fight, and you need someone in your corner who will be aware of and advise you on all the possible tactics and outcomes of your claim.
