According to the National Safety Council, 1 worker is injured on the job every 7 seconds. That amounts to 12,600 work injuries per day in the US. While that is far too many, not all injuries are severe enough to require time off or even to hire a work injury lawyer.
At what point does hiring a work injury lawyer become necessary? Every case is unique, so it can be difficult to answer that question. If you are unsure whether you will need a lawyer’s help, all you need to do is make one phone call.
After being injured at work, call Siegfried & Jensen today at (801) 845-9000 for a free case evaluation. In 30 years of service, we have helped our clients collect over $1.2 billion in settlements. Give us a call today to learn how we can help you.
Does Every Work Injury Require an Attorney?
If you are wondering whether every work injury requires the assistance of an attorney, the answer is no. For the most part, the workers’ compensation program is not too complicated and will cover some work-related injuries.
When You Do Not Need to Call a Work Injury Attorney
While sustaining a work injury is never fun, sometimes these injuries are minor and will heal quickly on their own. It also depends on the type of injury, the doctor’s recommendation, and the type of job you have.
The insurance company is more likely to accept injury claims that:
- Do not require prolonged medical treatment
- Are obviously work-related
- Will not require a long time away from work
- Do not result in permanent disability
For instance, suppose you slip on the floor and sustain a mild sprain. A doctor might advise you to prop your foot up for a few days and take aspirin. If you have a desk job, you could return after a couple of days of rest.
In this situation, your trip to the doctor would likely be covered. The injury was minor, and you did not miss out on much work. Some states would not even consider this injury eligible to receive wage loss benefits.
When You Should Call a Work Injury Lawyer
There are times when you know your injury is more severe than the insurance company admits and you find yourself in dispute with them. When this happens, you should hire a work injury attorney to investigate the matter and help you get the money you need.
Challenging the insurance company is never easy. Winning compensation would require legal knowledge, experience, and negotiating skills. The following is a list of situations in which you need to call a work injury lawyer.
Your claim gets denied
Not every injury gets approved for benefits. It’s truly frustrating when the insurance company declares your injuries as minor so they do not have to pay benefits. They might even say there is no proof you were injured at work or claim that you did not file in time.
Just because you were denied does not mean you are out of luck. You can make an appeal through the workers’ compensation system. A work injury lawyer can help you prepare the paperwork and gather the evidence needed to strengthen your case.
You have a preexisting condition
What happens if you injure a body part at work that was previously injured? In many cases, the insurance company could deny your claim by claiming that you are hurt due to a preexisting condition. It would be difficult to prove your injury was work related.
If you are certain that you were injured at work, you will have to prove it. A work injury lawyer has several ways of accomplishing this, including hiring expert witnesses.
You are unable to receive the necessary medical treatment
If you have been severely injured and require specific medical treatment, the insurance company can deny or delay approval. This is unfair as the treatment is deemed medically necessary. Insurance companies are not doctors; they play by their own rules.
A work injury lawyer will fight for your right to get the treatment you need to recover from your work-related injury.
The insurance company disputes your disability rating
If you become disabled due to a work-related injury, your doctor will likely assign you a disability rating. This disability rating will allow you to seek compensation including permanent disability benefits.
The problem is, though, that the insurance company can choose to disagree with your doctor and deny your benefits. They might want to send you to a different doctor who assigns a lower rating.
Of course, who is the insurance company more likely to believe? A work injury lawyer can help convince a judge you should be awarded a higher disability number.
You receive other government benefits
If you get Social Security benefits, this money may work against you when a work comp case arises. Any workers’ compensation benefits can be reduced if you receive other government assistance.
Such a situation can be tricky to handle, but a work injury lawyer will know what to do. Consulting an attorney experienced in this area can assure you on how to use the system to your advantage.
The insurance company refuses to settle
In some cases, the insurance company may deny your workers’ compensation benefits altogether. No matter what you try, they may refuse to settle, leaving you to feel hopeless. Even if they do try to settle, it most likely will be a lowball offer that will not be enough to cover your bills.
In this instance, you may have to request a hearing. Having a lawyer represent you during a workers’ comp hearing can improve your odds of getting the compensation you deserve.
Will a Work Injury Lawyer Cost Too Much?
After an on-the-job injury, you may be struggling financially. All your bills are accumulating while you are stuck at home, unable to work. You may be thinking a work injury lawyer would be helpful but you cannot afford legal services at this time.
The good news is that many work injury lawyers work on a contingency basis which means you would not have to worry about paying up-front fees. Your attorney will only get paid a certain percentage of your settlement if you win.
States vary on the percentage of your benefits a lawyer can recover. This percentage may be anywhere up to 33 percent. You and your attorney should discuss all potential fees before he or she goes to work so you are not blindsided.
Call Siegfried & Jensen to Help Improve Your Work Injury Case
In many cases, you will hopefully have no trouble receiving the work injury benefits you need to get by. If you find yourself facing a delay or a denial from the insurance company, Siegfried & Jensen are here to help. Our firm has been handling work injury cases for over 30 years with satisfactory results.
Overall, we have a 97-percent success rate, helping our clients receive over $1.2 billion in compensation over the decades. In our experience, insurance companies rarely look out for the interests of injured workers but they do whatever they can to get out of signing over a large check in your name.
If you need help with your work injury case, call Siegfried & Jensen today at (801) 845-9000. Our team is standing by, ready to offer you a free case evaluation.
