You may not think about workplace injuries, but they can happen every day. If it happens to you, the right workers’ compensation attorney can step in and help you apply for benefits. If you file independently and an insurer denies your claim, an attorney can review your situation and, if appropriate, appeal the decision.
Employers must provide workers’ compensation insurance or self-insure to pay a portion of your wages, your medical care, and other benefits when you suffer a work-related illness or injury. Because coverage is complex and involves both private-sector insurance and government rules, understanding when to hire a Spartanburg workers’ compensation lawyer becomes essential as soon as a workplace accident occurs.
How Can You Qualify for Available Benefits?
If you suffer an injury while at work, you must notify your supervisor or your company’s Human Resources Department immediately, but in no case more than 90 days after the incident. Unlike personal injury claims, the workers’ compensation system does not assign blame for an accident. Although liability is not a factor, insurers will deny your claim if you purposely injure yourself, are drunk, or test positive for drugs.
You are entitled to payment for your medical care related to your injury until you are well enough to return to work. This is known as your temporary disability benefits. Other potential benefits include:
- Medical Benefits: Coverage for medical expenses, including hospital stays, surgeries, prescriptions, and physical therapy related to your injury.
- Lost Wages Benefits: Compensation for lost income if you are temporarily unable to work due to your injury, known as Temporary Total Disability (TTD). Compensation is typically available for two-thirds of your average weekly wage.
- Permanent Disability Benefits: If your injury causes long-term damage, you may be eligible for Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) or Permanent Total Disability (PTD) benefits, which provide compensation based on the severity of your condition.
- Death Benefits: If the injuries sustained on the job lead to death, the family of the deceased may receive benefits in the form of burial costs and lost wages.
If you are considering when to hire an attorney in Spartanburg or other local communities, you must remember that employers are sometimes lax in the claims process and fail to report your workers’ compensation to the insurer or respond to their questions. An attorney could act early to keep the process moving, complete and submit paperwork promptly, and keep you informed.
Hire a Lawyer if You Are Facing Retaliation
When a company retains workers’ comp insurance, all employees have a right to pursue those benefits when injured. If your employer is in any way deterring you from accessing them, you may need to hire a skilled lawyer serving Spartanburg and the surrounding areas who has experience in workplace injuries and compensation claims.
Our lawyer could step in if an employer retaliates or pressures you not to file a workers’ compensation claim because of insurance premium concerns. Our skilled legal counsel can handle tactics such as threats, demotion, restriction of benefits, and dismissal.
Appealing a Denied Claim
A denied workers’ compensation claim in Spartanburg or a nearby city may indicate that it is the appropriate time to retain a lawyer. We can explain the appeals process and whether it can benefit you. Seeking an appeal often takes a careful approach to ensure we build a comprehensive file showcasing why you have a right to benefits for your workplace injury.
To help facilitate your claim, we take over communications with necessary parties, including:
- Your employer
- The insurance company
- The workers’ compensation claims administrator
- The approved physician
However, it is usually better to secure legal representation from the beginning of the claims process. If you have yet to file a claim at all, reach out to us for help as soon as you can to give our attorney maximum time to strategically position your claim.
Hire Our Spartanburg Lawyers When You Need Workers’ Compensation
If you live in Spartanburg, Greenville, or the surrounding areas and you suffer an injury in a workplace accident, we could help you explore whether you qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, explain the legal process, represent you during your filing, and advise you throughout the process.
We may have solutions when your employer is not cooperating, holding up your claim, or you were partly to blame for the accident. If you have questions about when to hire a Spartanburg workers’ compensation lawyer, contact us today to discuss your options.
(864) 585-5100