What Are The Risks Associated With Handling A Workers’ Compensation Case Without An Attorney?

An insurance carrier will tell workers only what they are required to by law. For instance, an injured worker is entitled to be paid for the mileage back and forth to any injury-related appointment, but many workers are not informed of this by insurance companies. In many cases, injured workers are entitled to benefits over and above what an insurance company will tell them. As another example, if an injured worker had to undergo a knee surgery which left them with a scar, then they would be entitled to disfigurement benefits. Disfigurement benefits pay out a certain amount depending on the nature of the disfigurement. However, most injured workers are never made aware of this benefit unless they have an attorney who is protecting their rights.

Often, I see people because they’re not receiving proper care. Sometime people have injuries to more than one body part as a result of the accident, but only one of their injuries is being treated. Or I see people because they may have waited months to receive an MRI to an injury. At some point, the doctor might finally recommend surgery but coverage for the surgery might be denied. This level of continued delay frustrates people, makes them feel unheard, and makes them feel as though they are not receiving proper care. Among many others, these are reasons injured workers need to speak to an attorney. Once they reach maximum medical improvement it is difficult to receive coverage for additional treatment. An attorney who gets involved in a case early-on can push for the necessary treatment, ensure that it happens in a timely manner, and hold doctors and insurance companies accountable.

Why Do You Need An Experienced Attorney To Handle A Workers’ Compensation Claim?

Workers’ compensation law involves a unique set of rules and procedural deadlines. The biggest issue is that deadlines are very short and missing a deadline can cause a case to be closed and some benefits to being irrevocably lost. If a worker does not hire an attorney with specific experience with workers’ compensation law then a deadline could easily be missed that harms their claim.

Any worker who feels that they are not being heard by their treatment provider should speak with a workers’ compensation attorney as soon as possible. The longer they delay the more difficult it will be to win at the hearing and/or receive the necessary treatment. Receiving a free consultation from an attorney does not require a commitment to hiring that attorney, so there is really nothing to lose.

For more information on Handling A Workers’ Comp Case Without An Attorney, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (303) 420-8080 today.