When you are injured on the job and file a workers’ compensation claim, any money that you receive is paid out by an insurance company. Before the insurance company pays, however, they will likely try to find something that is wrong with your claim, so they do not have to provide this compensation. They could have their attorney come up with a case against you, which could lead to your claim being denied. If this happens, your first step should be to hire a worker compensation lawyer.
What a Lawyer Can Do
Once you have retained a lawyer, he or she might recommend a doctor for you to see and will immediately begin negotiating with the insurance company. Neither side wants to see this situation end up in court, but the insurance company could attempt to bully you if you do not have a lawyer. Your lawyer can also represent you when you appeal your claim, which gives you a much better chance of success. In most cases, simply hiring an attorney should be enough to force the insurance company to settle, which ensures that you receive your compensation quickly.
Experience Matters
The lawyer that you choose does matter because you want this case to finish as quickly as possible. If your lawyer is experienced in this type of case in your area, he or she will probably have already worked with the members of the appeal board and, possibly, the insurance company’s attorney in the past, so they are sure to work quickly on the matter. When you attempt to represent yourself in this situation, however, it is very unlikely that you will receive the same treatment as a worker compensation lawyer. Georgia is full of experienced lawyers who will immediately work toward a settlement, so you can focus on your recovery.
Paperwork
Filing a workers’ compensation claim on your own means that you will have to fill out a mountain of paperwork before you can receive any type of payment. By hiring an attorney, you can opt to have this paperwork completed for you by someone who has done this work hundreds or thousands of times before. This means that the papers will be filled out correctly, which gives you one less thing to deal with while on your road to recovery.
The Law Firm of Kathy McArthur can help you get fair compensation if you are injured while at work.
