Getting injured on the job can result in expensive medical treatments, rehabilitation, lengthy physical therapies, and lost time from work. A lot of work-related injuries can be serious, and some even result in death. Around 2.7 million cases of workplace illnesses and injuries have been recorded in 2020 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
To cover injured workers’ medical expenses and lost-time wages, the workers’ compensation has been established with coverage varying per state. The same benefit also compensates the families of workers who are deceased due to accidents on the job. A workers’ compensation lawyer Atlanta can help workers and families recover the compensation they deserve.
The question of whether one needs a workers’ compensation lawyer Atlanta to handle claims. The answer to this burning question is almost always a yes. Injured workers can hire a workers’ compensation lawyer Atlanta to help them understand their rights. Some lawyers can be easily contacted through the phone or email and will immediately schedule a free initial consultation.
As in anything in life, there are advantages and disadvantages when engaging the services of a workers’ compensation lawyer Atlanta. Here are some of the pros and cons of hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer Atlanta.
Advantages of Engaging the Services of a Workers Compensation Lawyer Atlanta
- An experienced worker’s compensation lawyer Atlanta can ensure the filing of all necessary paperwork promptly and properly. A worker’s claim may be denied for even the minutest errors in paperwork.
- A workers’ compensation lawyer Atlanta can make sure that all the benefits that the worker is entitled to are processed and received by the worker, and that the said benefits are continued for as long as feasible.
- It has been generally established that an injured worker who engages the services of a workers compensation lawyer Atlanta claims more benefits for their cases than those workers who do not hire one.
- When an injured worker’s claims are denied initially (especially when the worker does not have a workers’ compensation lawyer Atlanta yet), an experienced worker’s compensation lawyer Atlanta can appeal to the courts for the denial. In a lot of cases, when the services of a workers’ compensation lawyer Atlanta are employed, the worker is more successful on the appeal.
- An injured worker can focus on healing and getting well because the workers’ compensation lawyer Atlanta can attend to the discussions with the insurance companies and the state workers’ compensation boards on the employee’s behalf.
- Almost all employers and insurance companies have lawyers and law firms tied to them to handle claims on workers’ compensation. If an injured worker does not hire a workers’ compensation lawyer Atlanta, he/she will need to talk directly to the lawyer representatives. When hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer in Atlanta though, the lawyer can talk head-on with the other parties’ lawyers on the worker’s behalf.
- Any questions or queries of an injured worker can be easily answered by an experienced worker’s compensation lawyer Atlanta. The injured worker can rest assured that the workers’ compensation lawyer Atlanta will have his/her best interest in mind.
Disadvantages of Engaging the Services of a Workers Compensation Lawyer Atlanta
- An injured worker who resorts to the services of a workers’ compensation lawyer Atlanta can be viewed by some employers in a negative light and be construed as being aggressive.
- The hearings and other meetings must be scheduled on the worker’s and his/her lawyer’s amenable schedule. This issue may make the workers’ compensation claims process longer. However, the workers’ compensation lawyer Atlanta will assuredly handle many of the negotiations and conversations on behalf of their client.
- A lot of worker’s compensation lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means that the workers’ compensation lawyer Atlanta is not paid until they collect money from their client and the claim. When money is received from the claim, the workers’ compensation lawyer Atlanta will be paid a certain percentage. The worker then will receive less than 100% of the financial benefits due him/her. Still, hiring an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer Atlanta can almost always guarantee receiving more compensation from the claim compared to when the worker handles it alone. At the end of the claim, the injured worker will end up with more compensation when employing the services of a workers’ compensation lawyer Atlanta even when they retain a percentage of it as their pay.
When and Why an Injured Worker Should Call a Workers Compensation Lawyer Atlanta
The last thing an injured worker will want to do at work is pile up expensive medical billings or lose income from acquiring a job-related injury. Sure, injured workers can deal with situations working only with their employers but more situations can be complicated and it can be in the best interest of the injured worker to employ the services of a workers’ compensation lawyer Atlanta. Here is when and why a workers’ compensation lawyer Atlanta should be involved.
- A workers compensation lawyer Atlanta should be involved when the employer or its insurance partner is giving the injured worker trouble during the process of compensation claiming.
If and when an employer or their insurance provider denied the injured worker’s claim and they do not pay benefits at the right time, then it can be best to talk to a workers’ compensation lawyer Atlanta. They can be more effective in court hearings and can ensure the injured worker’s rights are protected.
- A workers’ compensation lawyer Atlanta should be involved when the injured worker cannot report back to work for a prolonged period because of the work-related injury.
In Georgia, an injured worker is eligible to receive workers’ compensation for lost wages for up to 400 weeks. After submitting a claim, the employer or its insurance company should ideally start paying the benefits. The first check or payment should be mailed to the injured worker within 21 days after the 1st day he/she has missed work due to the injury. Each state has varying laws for workers’ compensation, so when an injured worker is from out of the state of Georgia, a workers’ compensation lawyer in Atlanta can be consulted to clarify certain timelines.
- A workers’ compensation lawyer in Atlanta should be involved when the injured worker is faced with discrimination of any sort from the employer or superior after claiming workers’ compensation.
An injured worker should employ the services of a workers’ compensation lawyer Atlanta when he/she has suffered any discrimination from the employer. These instances may include but are not limited to hour reduction, pay cuts, or demotion post-filing of a claim for workers’ compensation.
- A workers compensation lawyer Atlanta should be involved when the injured worker is having difficulty getting the right treatment needed.
It can be highly likely for insurance companies to take a long time to approve medical treatments especially expensive ones like surgery, after a work-related injury. An injured worker’s health and recovery is the most important issue after acquiring an injury, thus hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer Atlanta puts pressure on the insurance company to deliver treatment promptly to an injured but healing worker.
- A workers’ compensation lawyer Atlanta should be involved when the injured worker has plans to apply for permanent disability or obtain other benefits from the government.
Whether an injured worker is eligible for PPD (permanent partial disability) or PTD (permanent total disability), the worker should not have to get worked up about legal proceedings, arranging his/her settlement, or negotiating with various organizations. An experienced worker’s compensation lawyer Atlanta can work tirelessly to get a fair and timely outcome on the worker’s behalf. A workers compensation lawyer Atlanta can also ensure their client gets the most advantages and help their client get a better understanding of the situation at hand.
