About $62 billion was paid in workers compensation claims in 2017. These cases often go through a long process, and many claims are denied.
There are many questions that come up for employees during the process. Does it make sense to hire a workers compensation attorney? When should you hire one? How does workers compensation work?
If you want to understand when you need a workers comp attorney, keep reading. Find how when you need to hire a workers comp lawyer and how much you can expect to pay.
When to Hire a Workers Comp Attorney
Most people wait to hire a workers comp attorney once the claim is denied. They think that they can go through the process on their own and have a positive outcome.
That doesn’t always happen. The truth is that there are a number of things that can go wrong because you didn’t quite understand the workers compensation laws in your state.
You might miss the filing deadline because you were unaware of the statute of limitations laws in your state. You could have waited to report the injury to your employer, making it difficult to prove the injury happened at work.
You should hire an attorney shortly after the injury occurs. They will know your rights in these cases, and they can advise you each step of the way.
What if You Can’t Afford a Workers Comp Attorney?
Do you not want to hire an attorney right away because you’re afraid of the cost? You’re not alone. The average hourly rate for an attorney is anywhere between $200 – $500 an hour.
You can’t afford to pay that when you’ve been out of work and medical bills are piling up. Believe it or not, you don’t need to worry about costs right away when you hire a workers compensation attorney.
Workers compensation attorneys work on a contingency basis. Should they agree to represent you, they work on your behalf until you get your workers compensation settlement check.
The attorney will get a percentage of the check as payment. How much an attorney can charge is determined by your state’s workers compensation board. This board also has the final say as to how much an attorney can make from your case.
There may be some costs that you’re responsible for, but the attorney will shoulder most of it for you. That removes one major obstacle in hiring an attorney.
When Should You Hire a Workers Comp Lawyer? Now.
If there’s one thing to learn from this article, it’s that you have nothing to lose when you seek legal help in your workers compensation case.
You shouldn’t have to deal with workers compensation on your own. Get legal help from a workers comp attorney as soon as you can. You’ll be sure that your rights are protected and the documents are filed properly. An attorney can help you get your funds much faster.
Do you want more legal help? Read the Employment Law section of this site for a deeper understanding of your legal rights at work.