Some workers compensation claims, especially relatively clear-cut claims requiring compensation for a few weeks or less, proceed without a hitch, and there is no need to hire an attorney. In other cases, you may feel vulnerable based on your employer's reputation for disputing these claims, a threat that you may be fired if you pursue the claim, or for other reasons.
Why hire a workers' compensation lawyer — and when is it necessary? Insurance disputes that require a fight for the benefits you deserve are common. Some people do become victims of wrongful termination because they have been injured and filed a claim.
Your injury or work-related illness is serious, long-term and/or potentially disabling;
Your workers' comp claims has been unfairly denied, or you are suffering due to delays in payment of the benefits you need;
You have been fired since filing the claim — or you have reason to believe you will not be allowed to return to work in a comparable position;
You are dealing with harassment from the insurance company or your employer, including being followed by an investigator or sent to an independent medical examiner.
You are being sent to the company's doctor, who is biased toward the employer, perhaps not an M.D., and certainly not a specialist in the area required for proper assessment and treatment of your injury
Perhaps the most important reason to hire a workers' compensation lawyer is that your ability get proper medical care for your work injury and achieve maximum recovery may depend on it. All such situations call for a workers compensation lawyer who understands the rating tables and other complex aspects of the workers compensation filing, appeal and litigation processes.
With out a lawyer, you are at an extreme disadvantage. Workers compensation is based upon disability ratings that determine how much your claim is worth. These tables are not readily available nor understandable to the public, and you will never know if you are being offered the right amount.
Deprive you of money for essential future medical care;
Cause abandonment of an important part of your claim — or the failure to make the right claims;
Make these sacrifices based on unjustified financial concerns, since workers' compensation lawyers' fees are 10 to 15 percent of the settlement and are paid by the insured (employer).
You would not operate on yourself, so why try to pursue a case for your disability compensation on your own?
At the Employment Lawyers Group, we counsel and take action for injured workers in the Los Angeles area and throughout California. Work comp representation does not require upfront payments, and we earn court-approved, modest attorney fees only if we help you resolve your claim favorably. Call 877-525-0700 or send us an e-mail now to learn more.
As soon as possible after suffering an injury on the job — or learning you have an occupational disease — you should report what happened to your employer. In most cases, provided your condition will require you to miss substantial work, you will be entitled to California workers' compensation benefits. These benefits, covering necessary medical treatment, replacement of lost income through temporary or permanent disability benefits, and sometimes other needs, may be essential for your recovery and future. Unfortunately, getting proper medical care for a work injury turns out to be an imposing challenge for many California workers. Wrongful work comp claim denials are common, and disputes arise that put workers and families in dire straits financially while they wait for the benefit checks they desperately need. At the Employment Lawyers Group, we understand workers compensation law and how to protect our valid clients' rights to get the care and treatment they need, for as long as they need it. Our attorneys understand the injury and disability rating tables used to determine the value of your claim, and we have a track record of success holding employers and insurance companies accountable to their obligations under the law.
Our work on your behalf could make all the difference in your ability to:
Get professional, qualified care from the right physicians — not just those selected by your employer or work comp insurer;
Defend your rights to compensation effectively if your situation is complicated by the fact that you no longer work where you were injured, for example;
Ensure that you receive all benefits you are entitled to, including vocational rehabilitation if you cannot return to your previous occupation or a lump-sum settlement if you are permanently disabled;
Protect you against wrongful termination or other violations of your rights under federal and California law — or pursue a well-prepared lawsuit if your employer does terminate you;
If your work injury is serious or potentially disabling for the long term, it can be critical to contact a knowledgeable, action-oriented California workers' compensation lawyer.
To request a consultation on your case, call our respected metro Los Angeles and statewide law firm at 877-525-0700 or send us an e-mail. Se habla español.
As soon as possible after suffering an injury on the job — or learning you have an occupational disease — you should report what happened to your employer. In most cases, provided your condition will require you to miss substantial work, you will be entitled to California workers compensation benefits. These benefits, covering necessary medical treatment, replacement of lost income through temporary or permanent disability benefits, and sometimes other needs, may be essential for your recovery and future.