Do I Need a Lawyer for a Workers’ Compensation Claim?

August 4, 2017

Many injured workers depend on the benefits from their employers’ workers’ compensation insurance to pay for costly medical treatment and compensation for the wages they lost from missing work.

Unfortunately, obtaining these benefits is not always easy.

If your workers’ compensation claim was denied, or you did not receive the benefits to adequately compensate the cost of your treatment and wages lost because of your injury, you may need the help of a dedicated workers’ compensation attorney in Phoenix.

When Should I Contact a Lawyer?

Although some claims are straight forward and may not require a lawyer, you should immediately contact a skilled attorney if your workers’ compensation claim is disputed.

If you experience any of the following situations, do not hesitate to contact our attorneys for legal help with your claim.

Your Claim Has Been Denied

Many workers’ compensation claims are denied for reasons that include:

• You missed the one-year deadline to file a workers’ compensation claim.
• Your employer’s insurer does not believe your injury is work-related.
• There is a discrepancy between your accident report and the initial medical records.
• You filed a workers’ compensation claim after you were fired.
• You did not communicate with your employer’s insurer or failed to release medical forms.

Unfortunately, many workers believe that once their claim has been denied, they have lost the opportunity to receive benefits through a workers’ compensation claim.

However, our attorney can help you appeal a denied claim. We will:

• Collect past medical records that compare your health before and after the injury
• Interview witnesses who were present during the accident that caused your injury
• Locate hard evidence, such as video camera footage or photographs, which provide undeniable proof your injury occurred while you were performing a work-related task
• Interview the medical professional who initially provided you treatment, as well as any doctors who might have provided follow-up treatment

Generally, it may take up to 30 days for your employer’s insurer to make a decision to approve or deny your claim.

If your claim has been denied, our attorneys will review the reasoning behind the decision and fight to help you recover the benefits you deserve.

The Settlement Is Too Low

If you feel that your workers’ compensation benefits are not enough to cover the medical bills and missed time at work you have experienced, you should immediately contact a workers’ compensation attorney.

We can help you file an appeal to obtain the benefits you need. We will gather all medical records of the treatment you underwent to show the extent of the damages you suffered and the cost it took to recover from your injury.

We will also provide written testimony from your treating physician that says whether your injury prevents you from working and entitles you to partial lost wages.

You Have Suffered a Permanent Disability

If your work-acquired injury has caused you to suffer a permanent partial or permanent total disability, you may be entitled to life-long weekly benefit payments, or a single lump sum, to compensate for your lost wages.

However, insurance companies are often reluctant to pay out such a large sum of money and may deny your claim to avoid these payments. In this instance, you will need an attorney who is experienced with the tactics used by insurers to reduce your claim’s value or deny all together.

Our attorneys will work to protect your claim from interference from your employer’s insurer and secure. We will handle all communications with your employer’s insurer to prevent it from discrediting your claim and to secure the maximum benefits you deserve.

You Have Experienced Retaliation

It is illegal for your employer to retaliate against you after filing a workers’ compensation claim.

Retaliation can include:

If your employer has done any of the previously mentioned acts of retaliation after you have filed a workers’ compensation claim, you should immediately contact our attorneys for legal protection.

Help Appealing a Workers’ Compensation Claim

If your claim has been denied, or you are unsatisfied with the benefits your employer’s insurer has offered, our attorneys will help you dispute the insurer’s decision.

You must file a request for a hearing with the Industrial Commission of Arizona to begin the appeals process. However, appealing the decision of a workers’ compensation claim is a complex and difficult process.

Having an attorney who understands the appeals process may help ensure your claim is properly handled and all aspects of the appeals process are professionally handled to increase your chances of success.

How Much Will a Workers’ Compensation Attorney Cost?

At the Phillips Law Group, we understand the financial burdens you may be experiencing after a work-related injury. Losing the ability to work is difficult for many people and their families and is only made worse by expensive medical treatment needed to recover from these injuries.

For this reason, we provide our services on a contingency fee basis. This means you do not have to pay any upfront legal fees to hire our attorneys to represent your workers’ compensation claim. We will only require payment if we are able to recover the benefits you deserve.

Contact an Experienced Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Phoenix

If you have been injured in a work-related accident and need experienced legal help with a dispute over your workers’ compensation claim, do not hesitate to contact the Phillip’s Law Group.

Our dedicated personal injury lawyers in Phoenixare ready to help injured workers fight to recover the benefits they deserve for medical treatment and partial compensation for lost wages.

We will provide you with a free legal review of your claim where we will determine if you have a valid case.

Call 1-800-706-3000 if your workers’ compensation claim has been denied.