There are aspects surrounding an accident or injury that make you think about whether you require assistance or if you can manage on your own. Whether you should hire a workers compensation lawyer in Hershey or not depends on how your employer, or more significantly, its insurance provider, handles your case. 

8 Reasons to Have a Workers Comp Lawyer

Here are signs to determine if you need one.

• Your claim is denied, or your benefits are not paid on time by your employer. 

Some employers and workers’ compensation insurers refuse to pay bonafide workers’  claims because they know so many of those rejected claims will go unpursued. Unfortunately, they’re usually pretty much right.  You have nothing to lose since there’s no upfront cost of hiring one a compensation lawyer.

• The settlement offer made to your employer does not cover everything you have lost in wages and medical bills. 

If you don’t know if it’s a good enough settlement offer, don’t leave it up to the workers’ compensation to make sure you’re getting a fair deal. Workers’ comp settlements do need judicial approval, but judges generally rubber stamp any agreement as long as the deal isn’t hugely unfair.  All you can do is call an attorney if you want someone to get you the best settlement possible.

• The insurance company won’t pay. 

If you appeal that decision and know your claim is right – things can get complicated quickly, and you need expert advice. So if it gets complicated, there’s a disagreement, it’s time to get a lawyer. 

• You cannot return to your previous job.

Permanent injury or illness often requires the assistance of a knowledgeable workers’ comp attorney. After you have suffered permanent disability, whether partial or total, you may be entitled to weekly payments (or a single lump sum) to supplement your lost wages. These cases can be expensive to insurance companies, and they’ll stop at nothing to avoid paying you what you deserve. 

• Your employer retaliates.

If you’ve been fired, demoted, have your hours trimmed, or are pressured to return to work too soon, a lawyer can fight to remove the penalties.

• Your injury occurred due to the actions (or serious misconduct) of a third party or your employer. 

The workers’ comp system was set up to keep out civil suits from injured workers. 

• You qualify or plan to qualify for Social Security disability benefits. 

If you don’t structure your settlement properly, your workers’ comp benefits can shrink your Social Security disability payments. If you have an experienced attorney, he will know how to write your settlement agreement so that it offsets, minimizes, or eliminates it.

• You have a pre-existing condition.

If you had neck difficulties before carrying that hefty box, the insurance company will most likely blame your present pain on the previous condition. You’ll need evidence to prove otherwise.

Contact a Workers’ Comp Attorney

Workers who hire an attorney are often paid more than those who submit a claim without legal assistance. Because at any moment, you may find yourself entangled in a complicated series of paperwork, deadlines, and complex  legal processes. 

A consultation with a workers comp attorney can provide significant details. If you have any concerns about your capacity to manage your claim on your own, don’t hesitate to contact a worker’s compensation attorney for a consultation.