When Should You Contact a Workplace Injury Lawyer?

Across the span of a single year, about 2.7 million people across America suffer non-fatal workplace injuries. If you recently joined their ranks, you may be due compensation because of your employer’s negligence, inadequate hazard reduction, or unsafe activities.

Contacting and talking to a workplace injury lawyer is the first step toward getting your due. But when should you reach out to an attorney? Read on to learn the timeframe of what to do after you’re injured while on the job.

When Is the Right Time to Contact an Attorney?

“What should I do after a workplace injury?”

This is a common question that people often don’t know the answer to. The first thing to do is to get somewhere safe and seek medical attention. Prioritize your well-being and see a doctor if you need any health care.

If you need to go to the hospital, ask someone else to take photos of the scene of the injury for you. A trusted coworker may be able to do so. If you do not need medical assistance, you can take these photos yourself.

After that, it’s time to call a worker’s compensation lawyer. This should be an immediate part of the process. Don’t let more than a few hours go by before contacting an attorney.

Remember that worker’s compensation cases are time-sensitive. You usually only have a short timeframe to report your injuries and begin the worker’s comp process. Don’t waste time and get legal assistance immediately so that you don’t lose money due to deadlines.

Why Consult With a Lawyer So Quickly?

There are several critical reasons that you should call a workplace injury lawyer immediately after you are hurt beyond time sensitivity. Getting started with your claim early means quicker compensation. You won’t need to worry about having the funds to pay your medical bills or buy groceries as you heal from an injury.

Employers tend to delay claims after being notified of an injury. Once you notify your employer about the incident, they need to contact their insurance company.

Unfortunately, if they don’t act fast enough, you likely will get lower compensation. A lawyer can help to spur this process more quickly by working with the insurance company so that you can get all of the benefits you’re due ASAP.

Additionally, some insurance companies will deny claims for worker’s compensation. You can appeal this decision to receive fair compensation, but this process requires the aid of a lawyer.

Hiring an attorney immediately means that the paperwork and evidence filing process goes faster. They can then present these documents at settlement hearings to see that your case is handled with the care and precision it deserves.

Can You Represent Yourself in a Workplace Injury Case?

Some people try to represent themselves after being injured on company property. They believe that negotiating with corporate lawyers and insurance agencies on their own will decrease workplace injury lawyer costs. However, this greatly minimizes your chances of getting compensation.

Those who try to represent themselves have no experience in personal injury law and therefore don’t know the nuances of the field. Employers have far more knowledge and experience and will know how to exploit your limited understanding of personal injury law. You may not even get basic compensation for medical bills and time off work for healing.

Your employer doesn’t want to pay you anything and will shortchange you regardless of what you say. Hiring a lawyer for workplace injuries gets you better compensation. Plus, when you work with Sweet Lawyers’ top-notch team, you don’t pay a cent unless you win.

Do All Workplace Injuries Require Legal Assistance?

The answer to this question is almost always “yes.”

Even when your injuries are clearly related to work, employers and insurance companies may try to prove that they were not. Without legal experience, you won’t know how to dispute this claim and may say something accidentally that hurts your case. An attorney can make sure that you don’t accidentally shoot yourself in the foot during discussions with employers and HR.

Some people believe that they should not hire a worker’s injury attorney if they do not need extensive medical treatment. This is especially true if they also did not need to take time off work. However, there may be compensation in some of these cases regardless of the injury’s severity or permanence.

While most worker’s comp cases do not offer money for pain and suffering, some may. A free consultation with personal injury attorneys can help you to discover whether or not you have a right to any compensation.

How Can a Lawyer for Workplace Injuries Help You?

Workplace injury attorneys can handle communication with insurance agencies and employers. These parties often ask questions that you may not know the answer to. They also may play on your feelings of guilt, embarrassment, and anxiety over job security so that you downplay the severity of your injuries.

When you hire a lawyer immediately, others do not have the chance to do this. You will get better compensation that reflects the nature of your injuries.

Lawyers also work to calculate damages accurately. They obtain and organize medical documents and notes about the injury. They look at photos and assess the site of the accident to find fault.

This ensures that all facets of the case get the assessment that they require.

Reach Out to a Workplace Injury Lawyer

While being injured on the job is painful and costly, contacting an attorney right after the incident can save you suffering and money. Now that you know when you should contact a workplace injury lawyer after getting hurt, it’s time to begin filing your claim.

Our experts have over a decade of experience in personal injury law. We’re committed to answering your questions at any time of day and don’t take any fees unless we recover money after winning your case. Reach out to our experts for a free consultation today!