If you have ever experienced getting hurt on the job, then you may have also experienced the nightmare of paperwork and stress that goes also with workers compensation claims. There are so many people to deal with and so many official things you have to do in order to quality for any benefits, that sometimes it is even necessary to hire a workers compensation attorney. If you’re wondering why anyone would need workers compensation lawyers to handle a simple claim, then you should do some research to learn more about how involved this process truly is.
In 2011, state and federal workers’ compensation laws applied to over 125 million employees, and a program this big will inevitably face some difficulties and sometimes it will be hard to have streamlined processes for processing claims. Getting hurt on the job is expensive for everyone, including employees, employers and workers’ compensation insurance companies, and the total that these programs paid out in 2011 was just over $60 billion! This reflects a 3.4% increase from the 2010 figure that was reported to be $58.2 billion. The reason these expenses are so much is because workers’ compensation pays for the complete cost of medical bills for anyone who was subject to getting hurt on the job. They also pay cash benefits for lost time at work that begin anywhere from three to seven days after the injury.
If this all sounds super complicated and you are feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry because this is why there are workers comp lawyers around to help you through the process. If you have been injured at work and you’re wondering what to do next, keep reading so you can learn exactly why hiring a lawyer should be your first step.
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1. Save yourself time
You can save a lot of time just by having someone there who knows everything you have to do to get the ball rolling with regards to your claim.
2. Make sure you don’t miss deadlines
You don’t want to miss any deadlines because this can really set you back. If you have a lawyer they will keep track of this information for you and you won’t have to worry about when everything is due because they will remind you.
3. Get all the right paperwork in
It can be hard to know everything that you have to submit and file because there’s so much to do, but if you have someone there who knows the ropes then they will be familiar with the process and will tell you everything you have to do, step by step.
4. Have an expert’s opinion
This is important for anything you do, especially if you are dealing with something that could potentially have financial repercussions for you in the future. To maximize your outcome, talk with a lawyer.
5. Learn about all the benefits you qualify for
If you want to get everything you deserve then you should go over the whole situation with your lawyer to make sure you’re not missing out on anything.
6. Have a personal advocate who is on your side
This is one of the best benefits — no matter what happens, you are your lawyer’s number one priority. He or she will always be there to make sure you get the best deal, so it’s always nice to have a true expert on your side.
