The process you undergo after a workplace injury can be very confusing and frustrating.
Workers rarely think about what would happen if they are injured at work. The result of this mindset is that they often do not plan for an injury and do not know what to do when one occurs. When they have an accident, they may decide to keep quiet about it. This can be for a variety of reasons, but the most common is that the worker does not want to be a nuisance. They ignore their injury, try to treat it by themselves, and end up much worse off. The best way to avoid this mistake is to talk to a St. Louis workers compensation lawyer. Below, you’ll find out all the benefits of hiring a workers comp attorney.
Assessing Your Claim
The first service a lawyer will do for you is evaluate your claim. They will look at all of the information and be able to tell you what you need to know about your potential case. If the injury is moderate or severe, they can give you an accurate assessment of your odds of winning the case and provide an estimate for how much compensation you will be able to obtain.
Filing Your Claim
After you hire your lawyer, it is time to make a claim. This is generally not an easy task for someone without legal training, and especially for someone who has just suffered an injury. Your lawyer will help you take the initial steps and compile all of the necessary information. That includes visiting a doctor, making sure the accident has been reported to your employer, gathering evidence, and corresponding with your employer.
Appealing a Denied Claim
This is when you’ll need your St. Louis work injury lawyer the most. A denied claim is demoralizing, and the idea of getting no compensation at all is incredibly frustrating. If this happens, the best way to fight it may be to appeal. Your attorney can argue your case and do everything they can to get you the money you deserve. Often, an appeal will go to a court where oral arguments are required. This is a situation where you do not want to be alone.
Having Someone On Your Side
Few employers are very generous in workers’ compensation cases. When you experience an injury and make a claim, it sometimes feels like everyone is against you. Both your employer and insurance companies want to save money, and often that means trying to take advantage of you. Having an attorney means that no matter what, you will have someone fighting on your behalf.
The process you undergo after a workplace injury can be very confusing and frustrating. While some workers have positive workers’ compensation experiences, many do not. Hiring a St. Louis workers compensation attorney will ensure that you are navigating the process correctly. He or she will assess your claim, file it, appeal it if denied, and be on your side throughout. If you sustain an injury at work, the smartest way forward is consulting with an attorney right away.