Work Injury Lawyer
It can be frustrating if you get injured on the job but your workers’ compensation benefits aren’t covering all your medical needs. When you have a valid worker’s compensation claim denied or minimized, we can help.
At The Joel Bieber Firm, our experienced work injury lawyers fight for the rights of injured workers like you. Contact us today for free consultation to learn about your legal options.
Know Your Rights After an Injury on the Job
Employers in every state must provide workers’ compensation benefits to employees. These cover workplace injuries or medical conditions caused by their work duties, like repetitive motion injuries or toxic exposure. Each state has its own regulations and oversight from a workplace injury body.
Nearly all employers must carry workers’ compensation insurance unless the employer is:
- Very small, usually with fewer than three employees
- A federal agency or the federal government
- A railroad or railway employer
These benefits ensure that injured workers receive quality medical care and enough time to recover from their injuries. Benefits also include short-term disability pay. It’s usually about 2/3 of the employee’s weekly wage while they are out of work recuperating.
Workplace injury benefits are similar to those one would receive in a personal injury lawsuit, such as coverage of medical bills and related treatment costs and providing for lost wages. However, they do not cover non-economic benefits, such as compensation for pain and suffering, disfigurement, or disability.
Steps to Take After a Workplace Injury
To ensure that your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance covers your treatment after an on-the-job injury, you must follow these steps:
- Report the injury to your supervisor or company HR department right away
- If you are diagnosed with a medical condition or disease caused by your job or working conditions, report it to your supervisor as soon as you get a diagnosis
- See an employer-designated medical care provider for diagnosis and treatment
- If you have a workplace-related illness, you may need confirmation from the employer’s doctor
- Inform the medical center that you are seeking treatment for a job-related injury — the doctor you see becomes your treating physician
- File a claim with your state’s worker’s compensation board if your employer has not done so — each state has its own deadline for filing
- Follow all instructions from your treating physician — go to all follow-up appointments and physical therapy, and wear a brace or use a medical device as recommended
- Check in with your employer and keep them in the loop about your healing and expected return-to-work date
- Schedule a return-to-work date with your treating physician and employer
Your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company approves or denies your workplace injury claim. If you don’t follow the treatment recommendations from your treating physician or fail to complete and file all needed paperwork about your claim, you could face a denial, leaving you responsible for your medical care.
Learn When It’s Time to Hire a Work Injury Lawyer
The second purpose of workers’ compensation insurance, besides caring for hurt employees, is to protect employers from lawsuits filed by injured workers. You may file a workers’ compensation claim when you are hurt on the job. But sometimes, filing a lawsuit may still be necessary.
It’s time to call a work injury lawyer near you when:
- A claim gets denied
- Medical bills start piling up
- A third party, like a vendor or contractor, contributed to your injury
- You are semi- or permanently disabled
- Your employer denies the claim or blames you for the accident
- You have a pre-existing condition
- You are not getting the medical care you need to recover
- You’re facing retaliation for filing the claim
- You believe your termination was unfair
- You received a notice of a workers’ compensation hearing
A work injury lawyer protects your rights and argues on your behalf in a workers’ compensation hearing. They can also file a demand letter to your employer to ask for your medical bills to be paid.
Your Legal Options for a Workplace Injury Claim
Your legal options depend on your unique situation. When you have your initial free meeting with a Joel Bieber Firm work injury lawyer, we’ll explain your options and what to expect.
For example, suppose that a third party injures you while you work. In that case, your employer’s workers’ compensation benefits won’t cover your claim. Instead, you may have to file a lawsuit against the third party to get compensation.
If you are permanently disabled or otherwise unable to work again, workers’ compensation benefits may not be enough to cover your needs or pay you for a permanently changed life. A work injury settlement compensates for your pain and suffering, reduced quality of life, housing in a nursing home, or an in-home caregiver.
You can sue for damages if your employer denies your valid work injury claim. And you may also file suit if you suffered retaliation for filing one like being unjustly terminated, demoted, or passed over for a promotion. In these cases, you can file a suit for damages against the employer.
You can count on The Joel Bieber Firm to help you with these needs. We draft a suit for damages, negotiate a fair settlement, or litigate your work injury claim in court if necessary to get you the compensation you deserve.
Do You Need a Skilled Work Injury Lawyer?
The Joel Bieber Firm works with injured workers in many states and cities. Our workplace injury legal teams understand the laws in each state and your employer’s responsibilities toward you.
We will take legal action to get you the compensation you deserve if your claim is denied or minimized. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a local work injury lawyer!