The days and weeks after sustaining a workplace injury can be very stressful for workers who need to file paperwork, attend doctor’s appointments, communicate with their employer and the claims administrator, and navigate the complex workers’ compensation system in California.
Injured workers may need the help of an experienced work injury attorney in Orange County to obtain the benefits they deserve.
How Workers’ Comp Attorneys Help Injured California Workers
Insurance companies will look for nearly any reason to delay or reject a claim. Workers whose claims have been denied often don’t realize that they have the right to hire an attorney who will pursue the necessary legal action on their behalf. In the event of a dispute, a workers’ compensation judge will hear the case and make determinations on what the worker is owed. Injured workers who had their claim denied may need to hire an attorney to fight for the benefits they deserve.
The workers’ compensation system is complex, and the applicable laws change often. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney will keep up on the latest law, and apply the law so workers can get the medical treatment and wage replacement benefits they are entitled to.
They should have a thorough understanding of the case, not just at the beginning, but also as the case progresses.
In addition to workers’ compensation benefits, if a person or business was responsible for the injury, the worker may ALSO have a claim against the responsible party. This is called a “third party” claim.
If an employee was injured by a third party, the worker may ALSO file a lawsuit outside of the workers’ compensation system against the third party.
When the employer fails to have workers’ compensation protection for their injured worker, the injured worker may have a civil case for personal injury directly against the employer.
In addition to workers’ compensation benefits, the injured worker may also have claims against the employer for wrongful termination, intentional acts, and other types of claims.
An attorney can help workers identify potential rights and speed up the process. Attorneys are trained to determine what potential rights injured workers have and help workers decide if they want to pursue them.
If the insurance company refuses to offer a reasonable settlement, an attorney may advise workers to take the case to trial.
Insurance companies have teams of experienced defense attorneys who usually get paid by the hour to try to delay and deny legitimately owed benefits. An experienced workers’ compensation can assist workers in obtaining the benefits they deserve so they can move on with life.
The Next Step
Choosing a competent work injury lawyer in Orange County can help you navigate the complex workers compensation system. To discuss your claim with award-winning attorney Thomas F. Martin, call us today at 714-547-5025 or reach out to us online to schedule a free and confidential consultation.