Injuries at work can and do happen, whether it’s a muscle sprain or hernia from heavy lifting or the gradual onset of lung disease from inhaling dust. If you’re left temporarily or permanently debilitated, your livelihood can be jeopardized. However, workers’ compensation laws exist to protect employees and ensure they and their families can still get the money they need. To make these laws work for you, you should be ready to search for a workers compensation attorney Orlando FL to hire.
Defending Your Rights
The laws hold employers liable for covering the costs of employees’ workplace injuries. In some cases, the injury is minor and your employer won’t challenge the claim. Unfortunately, oftentimes claims get denied or settlements fail to cover lost wages and medical bills. An appeal can be daunting to handle alone, especially while injured, and your employer knows this. Many injured employees opt not to appeal a denied claim, seeing it as too stressful or costly. However, a good workers’ compensation attorney is compassionate, knowledgeable and charges no fees until the case is won.
Navigating the Paperwork
Not every worker is familiar with how to file a claim for benefits, and it can be difficult to prepare the necessary forms, documents and evidence while injured. This is where an attorney comes in. A workers’ compensation attorney not only stands for you in court when appeals are necessary, they also handle legal research, consulting with medical experts, gathering health records and more, letting you focus on recovery.
Backed up by Expertise
Employers and insurers have attorneys, too, and unless you’re a legal expert yourself, they probably are better equipped to understand the legal proceedings involved. Hiring a workers’ compensation attorney at the first opportunity gives you much-needed leverage to push back. With an attorney representing your interests and negotiating on your behalf, appeals don’t have to be scary—and may not even be necessary if you win the claim the first time.