4 Benefits of Working With a Lawyer for Workers’ Compensation

Editor's Note: Take a look at our featured best practice, HR Compensation Strategy (20-slide PowerPoint presentation). Compensation includes topics in regard to wage and/or salary programs and structures, for example, salary ranges for job descriptions, merit-based programs, bonus-based programs, commission-based programs, etc. (Also see the Related Info (including Benefits).) Compensation is [read more]

Also, if you are interested in becoming an expert on Human Resource Management (HRM), take a look at Flevy's Human Resource Management (HRM) Frameworks offering here. This is a curated collection of best practice frameworks based on the thought leadership of leading consulting firms, academics, and recognized subject matter experts. By learning and applying these concepts, you can you stay ahead of the curve. Full details here.

* * * *

You’ll likely qualify for workers’ compensation if you’ve been injured on the job. Regardless of the severity of your injury, getting the compensation you need can help make your life easier while you recover.

There are several benefits to working with a lawyer for workers’ compensation. If you’re seeking worker’s compensation, you’ll want to work with the best advocates. To do that, try searching for something like “best workers’ comp lawyers in [insert your area], for example: “best workers’ comp lawyers in Las Vegas”. This will pull a list of the best reviewed workers’ comp attorneys in your specific area.

Why should you work with a workers’ compensation lawyer if you’ve been injured? There are four main benefits to think about.

1. They Can Help Gather Evidence

There are more than two million nonfatal work injuries in the United States annually. Even though they’re nonfatal, injuries can have life-impacting consequences. When you’re fighting for the workers’ compensation you deserve post-injury, a lawyer can help gather evidence to support your claim.

Even though it seems simple, there’s a lot of evidence you can gather for a workers’ compensation claim. A qualified workers’ compensation attorney can help gather evidence such as:

• Medical records (initial evaluation after the accident and all follow-ups)
• Getting opinions from physicians who have treated you for your injuries
• Photos (if applicable) of the accident and accident site
• Evidence of potentially unsafe working conditions
• Statements from friends, family, and coworkers

There’s a lot more an attorney can gather as evidence. Regardless, they’ll do thorough work to ensure they have enough evidence to prove that you deserve the workers’ compensation you’re seeking.

2. They’ll Negotiate a Fair and Adequate Settlement

After gathering all the necessary evidence, they’ll work with your employer’s attorney and insurance agencies to negotiate a settlement. Ideally, they’ll want to settle this outside of a courthouse because it’s time-consuming and can put off your workers’ compensation for longer.

Based on the evidence you provided and what they gathered, they’ll work to come up with a fair settlement. Things they’ll use to assess what would be appropriate include:

• The extent of your injuries
• How long you’ll be out of work (the amount you deserve in lost wages)
• If your employer owes you any temporary disability
• If you have any lasting injuries that will prevent you from performing your job duties
• Your medical bills

3. They Can Provide You with Further Guidance and Advice

Besides fighting for the compensation you deserve, an attorney can offer further guidance. Depending on the extent of your injuries, they should be able to advise you on other benefits you might be eligible for, like:

• Wage reimbursement
• Vocational rehabilitation
• Long-term or short-term disability benefits
• Social security disability

4. They’ll Fight for You in Court

Even though most workers’ compensation cases can be settled outside of the courtroom in mediation, it doesn’t always happen that way. Hiring a workers’ compensation attorney will ensure you have the proper representation if your case goes to court.

A workers’ compensation lawyer won’t be afraid to go head-to-head with your employer’s attorney in the courtroom. They’ll make sure that your case is as strong as possible so that you have a good chance of getting your compensation in court if it cannot be handled outside the courtroom.

If you choose to represent yourself in your workers’ compensation case, handling it in court can be intimidating. Lawyers are comfortable in the courtroom, making your life less stressful.

Conclusion

No one wakes up and goes to work thinking they’ll be injured on the job, but it happens. Work injuries frequently occur in the United States, which is why workers’ compensation exists. Even though most people can handle workers’ compensation cases without a lawyer, hiring one is beneficial.

Hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer will help solidify your case by gathering evidence, negotiating a settlement, offering guidance, and fighting for you in court if necessary. Hiring an attorney sooner rather than later is a good idea if you get hurt on the job.

Want to Achieve Excellence in Human Resource Management (HRM)?

Gain the knowledge and develop the expertise to become an expert in Human Resource Management (HRM). Our frameworks are based on the thought leadership of leading consulting firms, academics, and recognized subject matter experts. Click here for full details.

The purpose of Human Resources (HR) is to ensure our organization achieves success through our people. Without the right people in place—at all levels of the organization—we will never be able to execute our Strategy effectively.

This begs the question: Does your organization view HR as a support function or a strategic one? Research shows leading organizations leverage HR as a strategic function, one that both supports and drives the organization's Strategy. In fact, having strong HRM capabilities is a source of Competitive Advantage.

This has never been more true than right now in the Digital Age, as organizations must compete for specialized talent to drive forward their Digital Transformation Strategies. Beyond just hiring and selection, HR also plays the critical role in retaining talent—by keeping people engaged, motivated, and happy.

Learn about our Human Resource Management (HRM) Best Practice Frameworks here.