No one plans on having an accident at work, but all of a sudden, everything has changed. There might be an immediate understand that the injuries are really serious. Other times, there is pain but the injury doesn’t really seem very serious. In either case, this is a work-related accident and falls under Alabama Workers’ Compensation laws.
Some large employers self-insure, but most employers purchase Workers’ Comp insurance from a private insurance carrier. The amount that the employer pays as a premium partly depends upon the type of work done (the premium for an office worker is substantially less than the premium for a construction worker) and the number of injury claims that have been submitted. Every additional claim means that the employer will pay more in premiums. It isn’t unknown for an employer to attempt to keep his premiums low by not reporting claims and by understating the type of work performed.
The employer must pay for medical costs, but has the right to select the doctor. What if the injured worker has a back or neck injury, for example, and the doctor states that the employee is able to return to work, but the worker cannot? The worker can see a different doctor at his own defense, perhaps someone very experienced in that type of injury, and receive a different diagnosis. Differing medical opinions are common, but in circumstances like this can be life-altering for the worker and family. The insurance company will offer some type of settlement, as low as possible, and will want a waiver signed. Accepting the settlement and signing a waiver would in all probability be a huge mistake. There is no way to determine future expenses until sufficient time has passed.
Forstman & Cutchen LLP has been providing professional, experienced legal representation to clients in the Birmingham area since 1967. The firm focuses on personal injury, vehicular accident, plaintiff’s litigation and workers’ compensation cases. Wrongful death claims, insurance and uninsured motorist claims, family and bankruptcy law and criminal cases are also a very important component of the practice. They understand the stress that dealing with these matters causes for their clients and devote their legal skills to achieving the best results possible for their clients. Anyone with a legal problem who needs attentive and experienced representation should contact an Attorney in Birmingham, AL to discuss their situation at a free consultation.
