If you suffer a work-related injury or develop an occupational disease, you may be tempted to represent yourself should you have to go in front of a worker’s compensation judge.
There are situations where you can represent yourself without losing benefits that you are entitled to get. If your injury was small and non-debilitating, something like a sprained ankle, you should not have to involve a workers compensation lawyer. You can deal with the claim yourself if your Joliet employer admits fault and you lost more than a week of work because of the injury.
Why Hire a Workers Compensation Attorney
It is not unusual for injured employees to settle with their employer. Settlement can happen if their claim was denied or they do not get the amount of compensation they were expecting. Unfortunately, many employees are not aware that once a worker’s comp claim has been settled, it cannot be reopened.
To ensure you are maximizing your benefits you need a worker’s comp attorney. The attorney will file the necessary documents and make sure they are filed in time. The lawyer will also document your injury and your need for compensation. There is no good reason not to hire a Joliet attorney. You do not have to pay legal fees until you are awarded compensation.
When to Hire a Workers Compensation Attorney
If you are disabled, either partially or permanently, you may be entitled to a lifetime of payments or a lump-sum settlement. Because of the size of this perpetual payment, insurance companies will go to great lengths to avoid them. An expert attorney is needed to argue your case, ensuring that you get the compensation you deserve.
If, because of the injury, you are fired or your hours are reduced, this is workplace discrimination. If you are retaliated against in any way, hire a qualified workers compensation attorney.
If you need a workers compensation attorney, contact Block, Klukas, Manzella & Shell, P.C. Injury Attorneys in Joliet. To arrange for a free initial consultation, visit http://www.blocklaw.com.