Do I Need a Workers' Compensation Lawyer? My Employer Said I Don't

A common question that individuals that have been injured in a work accident ask is whether they need an attorney. In some cases, either their employer or the insurance company that represents their work has suggested that they can handle the case without a lawyer.

We often tell people that when someone representing the other side suggests that something can be done without involving legal representation that they are not doing it out of the goodness of their hearts, but are making that request because they are the one's that benefit.

In fact, just because an insurance company, or an employer is paying an injured person, that does not mean that a claim has officially been established. It is not uncommon for insurance companies to pay an employee just up until the time that the deadlines for filing a claim expire, and then because an injured worker has not officially filed claim, stop payments. Workers' compensation cases can be filled with potential procedural pitfalls that can cause an injured worker to have difficulty getting all of their benefits and in some cases they can lose their benefits entirely.

Whether the proper claim forms were not filed on time, or the doctors haven't provided the right reports or the required language in their reports wasn't used, or even in some cases where too much time has elapsed between orders from the Workers' Compensation Commission, these all can be ways that an injured employee can lose their benefits. An attorney that understands the Workers' Compensation laws makes sure that someone who has been injured at work will receive all of the payments and benefits that are rightfully theirs.

If you've been injured at work, call the attorneys at Portner & Shure today for a free consultation: (301) 854-9000, (410) 995-1515.