If you’re working and get hurt, you have certain rights. You can seek out immediate medical attention. Your employer can’t legally force you to finish your shift before going to the hospital, nor can they force you to come back to your job prior to getting the doctors approval. You’re also entitled to workers compensation.
The exact amount of compensation you receive after you’ve been hurt in the workplace varies from one situation to another. Determining if you’re getting the amount you entitled to can be difficult. The best way to make sure you’re treated fairly will be connecting with an accident lawyer who specializes in work place injuries goes a long way towards making sure you get the fair treatment you deserve.
While taking care of your medical needs will be your first priority, your second priority needs to be locating an accident lawyer to help with your situation. You don’t want to put this off for long. The first thing the attorney will do is make sure your injury has been reported properly. An alarming number of people who get hurt in the workplace don’t get the compensation they’re entitled to simply because they failed to make sure their employer knew of the injury. After taking your case the attorney will make sure the accident report has been properly filed with the Workers Compensation Office and that your employer has been alerted to the situation. The sooner this happens, the better it will be for everyone involved.
If meet with an accident lawyer and they immediately start talking about a huge settlement, you need to look for a different attorney. Huge settlements aren’t nearly as common as legal television shows imply. Workers comp was never intended to help people get rich, it’s designed to help you keep your bills paid when you can’t work. Most people receive just enough money to cover their medical expenses and their living expenses. The only way a large settlement gets awarded will be if you and your lawyer can prove you were working in a dangerous environment. For example if you work in a shop and trip over your own feet and break your arm, your compensation will cover your living expenses, however, if the reason you tripped was because there was equipment and trash laying on the floor, you might be able to get a little more money.
The most important thing to remember when working with an accident lawyer is communication. Without strong communication, you’re case will likely fail. Not only do you and your attorney need to spend a great deal of time discussing the accident, your medical bills, and your future, but when the case reaches its conclusion, you also need to discuss the terms of the agreement.
Before going home you should know how much compensation you get, the terms of the agreement, and how you’re supposed to handle future medical expense. Click here for more information.
