Have you been injured on the job? If so, you may think it’s a simÂple matÂter to file your workÂers’ comÂpenÂsaÂtion claim, meet with the comÂpany repÂreÂsenÂtaÂtive, and receive benÂeÂfits, right?
ActuÂally, probÂaÂbly not. It can be difÂfiÂcult to file workÂers’ comÂpenÂsaÂtion claims, and one reaÂson is the forms themÂselves are quite difÂfiÂcult to underÂstand. More imporÂtant than that is that filÂing them incorÂrectly or leavÂing facts out can delay or even cause a judge to deny medÂical assisÂtance or income benÂeÂfits altogether.
FurÂther, you’ll need a lawyer if you decide to go to court to defend your case, and you’ll need a lawyer if you go to court so that your case is propÂerly preÂsented. Doing so could give you a far betÂter finanÂcial outÂcome than you might get if you simÂply setÂtle for what the insurÂance comÂpany wants to give you. Your Atlanta attorÂney will help you through the process of filÂing and if necÂesÂsary defendÂing your claim in court, so that you get the benÂeÂfits you deserve.
How your Atlanta workÂers’ comÂpenÂsaÂtion attorÂney helps you with your case:
EduÂcaÂtion
The first thing your MariÂetta workÂers’ comÂpenÂsaÂtion attorÂney will do is to interÂview you to deterÂmine the merÂits of your case. Then, he or she will eduÂcate you about workÂers’ comÂpenÂsaÂtion and how it works. He or she will help you walk through filÂing your claim, disÂcussing any key issues about your claim that deserve speÂcial attention.·
GathÂerÂing key evidence
One of the key items your workÂers’ comp attorÂney will help you do is to gather key eviÂdence to supÂport your claim, includÂing payÂroll inforÂmaÂtion, your perÂsonÂnel file, medÂical records, and so forth.
InvesÂtiÂgatÂing third party claims and legal issues related to your case
In addiÂtion to your workÂers’ comÂpenÂsaÂtion claim, your lawyer will also invesÂtiÂgate any third party claims you may be able to file, and any legal issues that may come up in relaÂtion to your claim, such as medÂical cauÂsaÂtion for your injuries, or willÂful misÂconÂduct that may have had an impact on your injury.·
Full exploÂration of your condition
Your lawyer will also talk to your physiÂcian or other medÂical perÂsonÂnel after he or she interÂviews you so as to fully underÂstand the extent of your condition.·
AdvoÂcacy
If any liens are asserted for your case, your lawyer will help deterÂmine how valid they are.
Your lawyer will also advoÂcate for you by conÂtactÂing the insurÂance comÂpany hanÂdling your workÂers’ comÂpenÂsaÂtion insurÂance claim and the GeorÂgia State Board of WorkÂers’ ComÂpenÂsaÂtion to notify them of the claim, and will then help you file the claim for benÂeÂfits if not already done.·
If the case has not already been addressed, the attorÂney will disÂcuss with you whether or not the case should be negoÂtiÂated with the insurÂance comÂpany to setÂtle. If a hearÂing has been requested, your attorÂney will help you preÂpare for the hearÂing by eduÂcatÂing you about it, and will also meet with any medÂical providers or other peoÂple who may be witÂnesses for your case, to preÂpare them for their own depositions.
Your lawyer may also advise you throughÂout your case on rehaÂbilÂiÂtaÂtive issues like meetÂing with vocaÂtional rehaÂbilÂiÂtaÂtion speÂcialÂists, nurse case manÂagers, your employer, and insurÂance adjusters as necessary.·
PreparÂing for court
In addiÂtion to preparÂing your own witÂnesses for the case, your attorÂney may also preÂpare writÂten quesÂtions for and then depose peoÂple for the claimant’s side, includÂing physiÂcians, witÂnesses to the injury event, and so forth.
In prepaÂraÂtion for the hearÂing, your lawyer will also preÂpare exhibits for the hearÂing if necessary.·
After the ruling
After the rulÂing, your attorÂney may also disÂcuss with you whether or not you should appeal your case if it has not come out in your favor.
Those who are conÂsidÂerÂing filÂing a workÂers’ comp claim or who have quesÂtions about the process should conÂtact the GeorÂgia workÂers’ comÂpenÂsaÂtion lawyers at The Keener Law Firm.
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