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When Do You Need A Work Injury Lawyer?

If you have been injured on the job, how do you know when to get an attorney? While many people may advise you to get workers’ compensation, there are exceptions when you may need to seek an attorney. Today, we are going to look at few reasons when hiring an attorney will be in your best interest if you have suffered a workplace injury.

Workers Compensation Versus A Personal Injury Lawyer

The biggest difference you will need to distinguish is that a work injury lawyer is needed when you should have never been injured in the first place; in other words, the work injury must have a negligence claim. In a personal injury claim you are entitled to benefits for pain and suffering, whereas for workers’ compensation you are not. So if you are looking for compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, etc., a personal injury case may be the best solution you have to getting that money. Below are a few examples of when you can hire a work injury lawyer:

1. If you were injured by a defective product or toxic substance

If your work injury was related to a product that was dangerous and failed to work and the manufacturer knew about it, yet failed to tell your employer they can be held responsible. This can result in them compensating your for medical bills, pain and suffering and lost wages. Be sure to speak with an attorney about your rights if you were injured or became ill because of toxic substances.

2. Intrusive or overwhelming contact by your employer

There are many cases where your employer may respond to your injury in a way that would qualify you to get help from an attorney. A few examples of reasons you may want to speak with an attorney are if your employer is refusing to tell you the identity of the insurer, if they demand to know when you will be back, threaten to hire someone else to do your job within a week if you’re not back, or other overbearing demands.

3. No contact by your employer

On the contrary to the last point, if you have been trying to reach your employer or insurer about your claim and they do not contact you for an extended period of time, you may need to speak with an attorney. While this situation is more rare, it can happen and you will need someone to step in and help you make sure that your claim is handled justly and fairly.

4. Your claim is denied

Another reason you may want to hire a work injury lawyer is if your claim was denied. Generally the insurer is supposed to investigate the case before making the decision, yet if there is no evidence that an investigation was made, your denial may be unjust.

5. If your employer doesn’t have workers compensation

Speaking with a work injury lawyer is a wise decision if your employer is uninsured. It can be an overwhelming process to sue, but with the help of an experienced attorney you can get the compensation you deserve to help pay for your recover and pain and suffering.

A few other reasons you may want to hire an attorney are if:

  • If your injuries are severe and you need surgery
  • If you have pre-existing disabilities
  • If you want to dispute an adverse decision
  • If you can no longer work on a regular basis

We hope that you have a better understanding of when you should speak with a work injury lawyer. Of course, if you have additional questions, we will be happy to help.


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