Accidents at work can be devastating. Being injured at the office may leave you suffering physical pain, emotional trauma and financial strain; sometimes the results can last even beyond rehabilitation, impacting daily tasks as well as overall quality of life.
If you have been injured on the job, you may be curious whether you should seek legal assistance. While not every workplace injury requires legal counsel, certain signs suggest it could be time for legal counsel. For instance, if chronic pain persists for an extended period, settlement offers are inadequate, or your employer denies your workers’ compensation claim.
Injury attorneys bring in legal expertise that will assist in advocating for you and managing the complexities of your case as well as obtaining fair compensation from insurance providers or courts. From haggling with your employer’s insurance company to representing you in court, an injury attorney can help you get the best possible outcome for your case.
This review will discuss the signs that indicate you should seek legal counsel after a workplace injury. So whether you’re dealing with physical or emotional trauma, an injury attorney can provide instrumental support during your recovery. You can visit this site to learn more about why you should hire a personal injury attorney following a workplace injury.
Chronic Pain or Discomfort
If you are suffering from persistent discomfort after being injured at work, seeking medical assistance as soon as possible and consulting a personal injury attorney are both imperative steps towards getting better. A personal injury attorney can provide invaluable support throughout the legal process by advocating on your behalf for appropriate medical treatments as well as your right to fair compensation.
Common examples of such chronic discomfort that require legal advice include
- Back pain or herniated discs caused by heavy lifting, repetitive motions or slips and falls will often manifest themselves through backache
- Headaches or migraines being more likely in response to workplace stressors like stress at work or exposure to chemicals in the environment.
- Joint pain as the result of overexertion, repetitive stress or exposure to chemicals.
Denial of Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Has your employer denied your workers’ comp claim? Workers’ comp insurance provides financial and medical benefits if an incident at work results in injury.
If your claim was denied, hiring a personal injury attorney is key in successfully appealing it and gathering evidence supporting your cause as you fight to receive full compensation for any harm suffered at work.
Employers deny worker’s comp benefits for the following reasons
- Arguing that your injury was due to pre-existing conditions or due your own negligence
- Challenging the severity of your injury or the need for certain medical treatments or procedures.
- Stating that an injury did not happen while at work or was unrelated to your work.
Disputed Liability
When your employer disputes liability for an on-the-job injury, legal help could be essential in order to establish what happened and hold them responsible.
Corroborating liability can be hard; an employer might try escaping their responsibilities by alleging your injuries were the result of pre-existing conditions or your own negligence – in which case legal advice might help determine the situation more precisely.
Some factors that could determine liability in an employee workplace injury case include
- Ascertain if an employer provided appropriate training and supervision of employees.
- Whether an attempt was made by management to cover up an incident by not notifying proper authorities immediately the incident occurred.
- Whether the injury happened on company property or while engaged in work-related activities.
- Whether they provided a safe working environment and adequate safety equipment.
- Whether there were witnesses present during any accidents or safety violations.
If your employer disputes liability for your workplace injury, consulting with a personal injury attorney could help gather evidence in support of your case, negotiate with their insurer and advocate on your behalf for fair compensation.
Low Settlement Offer
Before accepting an insurance company settlement offer that you consider to be too low, it’s crucial that you consult a personal injury lawyer first. Insurance providers frequently make low settlement offers in an attempt to limit potential pay-outs – or avoid having more severe liability claims assessed and approved against them altogether.
Personal injury lawyers are experts at analyzing settlement offers and can negotiate on your behalf to reach a more beneficial deal.
Some factors that affect the value of a settlement include
- The length of time off work caused by your injuries and any potential ongoing costs of rehabilitation treatment and therapy as a result.
- The severity and extent of your injuries, as well as any long-term or permanent disabilities.
- The total costs involved (medical treatment as well as future expenses).
- Your physical, psychological and financial suffering as a result of being injured.
Permanent Disability or Disfigurement
If a workplace accident has left you permanently disabled or disfigured, representation by a qualified injury attorney may help ensure you receive adequate compensation for the injuries you have suffered. These disabilities or disfigurements may have serious ramifications on the quality of life and make carrying out daily activities challenging.
But with assistance from an experienced personal injury attorney you can navigate this complex legal process more smoothly while getting medical care and rehabilitation, as well as fighting hard for equitable compensation payments for your damages.
Examples of permanent disabilities or disfigurements that might require legal representation
- Internal injuries or organ damage: Workplace injuries that cause internal injuries and organ damage often necessitate extensive medical treatments and rehabilitation protocols, along with extensive rehabilitation timeframes.
- Loss of limb or amputation: Suffering an occupational accident that resulted in the loss or amputation of one or more limbs can have profoundly damaging repercussions for the quality of life, ability to work, and overall wellbeing.
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement: Workplace accidents that leave permanent scars behind are extremely traumatic on both an emotional and psychological level.
- Traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries: Traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries (TBI/SCIs) can result in long-term physical, cognitive, and emotional impairments that compromise daily activities such as work. A TBI/SCI may alter how we think, feel and act.
- Vision or hearing loss: Workplace injuries that cause vision or hearing loss can severely compromise both quality of life and ability to work. But seeking compensation from insurance can help alleviate some of this hardship. A personal injury lawyer may assist in seeking the necessary compensation related to vision or hearing loss.
Conclusion
To sum it all up, it is critical that, after suffering any form of workplace injury you seek legal representation immediately. An injury attorney will help guide you through the legal process while upholding your right to fair compensation. So don’t hesitate to seek legal counsel immediately if you believe a workplace accident occurred that warrants legal assistance.