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For injured and ill workers in Pennsylvania, receiving workers’ comp benefits is often essential to their ability to pay their bills and support themselves and their families. This is why it is so detrimental that they retain these benefits as long as they are able. So, what are the reasons why injured workers in Pennsylvania can lose their hard-won workers’ compensation benefits? Our Lancaster workplace accident attorney explains some of the more common reasons below.
Receiving a favorable decision regarding your workers’ comp claim does not mean that your obligations to comply with medical treatment have ended. On the contrary, workers’ comp mandates that you continue to attend your doctors’ appointments and comply with doctors’ orders. Workers’ compensation is intended to assist you in paying your medical bills and having an income while you recover and heal. Therefore, failure to comply with the instructions of your healthcare professionals can result in the termination of your benefits.
In Pennsylvania, a criminal conviction that results in time spent in incarceration can result in the termination of workers’ comp benefits.
As the goal of workers’ compensation is to provide you with a source of income and medical expenses, if you are able to return to work and earn at least as much as you were earning when the illness or injury occurred, your workers’ comp benefits will terminate. Any medical costs that are incurred due to the work-related injury or illness should still be covered, however.
Insurance companies sometimes offer a one-time lump sum payment to injured workers in lieu of their workers’ comp benefit payments. Whether or not you should accept this lump sum is a matter to be addressed with your Lancaster workplace accident attorney.
If you die, and your death is not related to the injury or illness for which you have been receiving workers’ compensation benefits, the benefits will end. If you die for reasons related to your on-the-job illness or injury, your family may still be able to receive survivor benefits. Whether or not your family will be able to receive these benefits is a question for your Lancaster workplace accident attorney.
Your employer should file a Petition to Terminate, Modify, or Suspend if they decide to terminate your workers’ comp benefits. As soon as you receive this petition, you should contact your Lancaster workplace accident attorney as there are typically deadlines for your response, and these deadlines may be very soon. Your lawyer will know how to proceed to help you retain the benefits you need.
You should also receive a Notice of Assignment that informs you who the judge (WCJ) will be in your case, as well as instructions regarding the filing of your answer. It is important that you ensure your Lancaster workplace accident attorney receives this notice as well.
It is possible you will need to go through litigation to fight for your workers’ comp benefits, and when this happens, the abilities of your attorney can make a huge impact on the outcome of your case. Speaking with a Lancaster workplace accident attorney at Vanasse Law, LLC can help put your mind at ease and support your ability to maintain your benefits.
If you are worried that you will not be able to afford a lawyer to help you retain your benefits, rest assured that we work on a contingency basis, which means you do not pay us anything upfront. Contact our firm to learn more about how we are paid and how we can help support your case.
When the pending termination of your benefits is based on the opinion of the employer’s doctor that you are able to return to work, it is important that you seek the opinion of your own physician. It is best to fight the opinion of the employer’s doctor with the opinion of another physician. If your doctor agrees with you that you are not yet ready to return to work, a judge can hear the case and make a decision regarding your benefits.
You will typically have the opportunity to submit to mediation to settle the petition. Mediation will likely be between you, your employer, and your employer’s insurance carrier. All parties are encouraged to reach a settlement, however, if a settlement is not able to be reached, the parties will attend one or more hearings. The exact number of hearings will vary based on the WCJ assigned, the evidence that needs to be collected, and the basis for the petition. It is likely that you will need to testify at some point in the process.
Your lawyer will be instrumental in advising you during this time and ensuring your case is progressing as it should. They will notify you when you will need to testify and help you to be prepared to give your testimony. Your attorney will also attend the depositions of any physicians that are testifying in your case. There should be at least two doctors giving testimony, your physician and the doctor for the employer.
Even if the WCJ decides against you, you still have the right to appeal. However, you will not receive any benefits from workers’ comp unless and until the WCJ’s decision is reversed.
If you are in jeopardy of losing your workers’ comp benefits, or you have already had your workers’ comp benefits terminated, consult with a Lancaster workplace accident attorney at Vanasse Law, LLC. We have the experience and skills needed to help you retain the benefits you need to support yourself and those you love. We may be reached via our contact page.
When you are injured on the job, you could be eligible for benefits through workers’ compensation, a form of insurance that employers carry for coverage when their workers are injured on the job. Following your injury, workers’ compensation benefits present a form of wage replacement in addition to coverage for medical costs during the time required to recover from your injury.
Workers’ compensation benefits are generally meant to provide a short-term solution for an employee who is injured at work but will eventually be capable of returning to work in some form. When complete recovery happens, ongoing workers’ compensation is not possible, however, if your injuries impact your ability to work at a job that pays as well as before the injury, partial disability may be available to you.
For help identifying what benefits you could be entitled to and to make the most of your claim with the help of an experienced PA workers’ compensation attorney who helps you every step of the way, connect with Vanasse Law, LLC below, and read on to learn more.
Permanent partial disability is an injury that results in impairment that falls under the threshold to be found disabled. Under law published through the PA Department of Labor and Industry, for an adult to be found disabled and qualify for related benefits, you must be “unable to do any substantial work because of your medical condition(s),” with the state adding the emphasis there. If an injured person is able to perform some level of substantial work, then permanent partial disability may be available.
The PA DOLI clarifies that partial disability benefits are paid:
When your injuries do not qualify you for long-term disability benefits as you have recovered enough to return to work in a different and lower-earning capacity, Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) may be available to make up the difference. The PA DOLI notes that the maximum period of payment is 500 weeks, however, they are not required to be consecutive or back-to-back.
The compensation rate from the date of the injury is two-thirds of the difference between the employee’s average weekly wage and the average weekly wage of the employee after their return to work. In total, permanent parietal disability in addition to the different earnings when you have returned to work cannot be higher than what you were earning prior to the injury.
To learn how an experienced local workers’ comp attorney from Vanasse Law can help you navigate the complex process of proving your permanent partial disability and collecting the full compensation you deserve, visit our site to schedule your free initial consultation.
Experiencing a life-altering, long-term injury while working to support yourself and your family can not only result in a permanent change in your ability to earn but also in long-term medical costs and changes in your quality of life. The purpose of filing a claim or case for your work-related injuries is to cover the costs and damages linked to your injuries, and when they result in impairment or disfigurement, the amount can be substantial.
Exploring options on your case with an experienced PA workers’ compensation lawyer from Vanasse Law, LLC through a free initial consultation is a useful way to frame expectations on your case, and read on to learn more about the differences between benefits for permanent impairment or disfigurement, as you’ll see they are complementary and collected separately and in addition to one another.
The primary aspect of your injury settlement claim will generally be for the medical and occupational costs linked to your injuries. The PA Bureau of Disability Determination (BDD) is the state agency that works with the Social Security Administration to determine whether PA citizens who are disabled are entitled to federal disability benefits.
Under PA law, for an adult to be found to be disabled:
Your case and claim are supported by collected evidence that would be admissible in court to measure your damages, something your workers’ compensation attorney helps you take care of.
One of the most important facts to note about disfigurement benefits in Pennsylvania is that they are paid in addition to and separately from any disability benefits you might be entitled to and/or already collecting. Generally, it will be the for-profit insurance company of your employer responding to your request through their attorneys.
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry clarifies the following in reference to disfigurement benefits:
If you have been injured on the job and are working on measuring the damages you are entitled to for disability and/or disfigurement or are already collecting disability and would like to collect the disfigurement benefits you are entitled to, we can help. To learn how an experienced local workers’ compensation attorney from Vanasse Law can advocate for the fullest coverage for your work-related injuries possible, visit our site to schedule your free initial consultation.
If you have been terminated from your job but believe you are entitled to workers’ compensation, the Pennsylvania workers’ compensation attorneys at Vanasse Law, LLC have helped employees successfully complete the difficult and often stressful process of getting the workers’ compensation benefits to which they are entitled. Our team is here to answer any questions you might have.
The state of Pennsylvania is one that has an “at-will” employment system in place. This means that an employee is free to leave employment at will or at any given time without reason. At the same time, employers are also able to do the same — they can release an employee at any given time. While generally, no reason is necessary, in some situations, an improper reason can be used as grounds to recover compensation.
Whether or not your termination was proper or improper, an employer is not able to escape their obligations to an injured employee by terminating them after the injury. According to Pennsylvania law, workers’ compensation benefits are not meant to stop as a result of the injured employee being terminated or laid off from employment.
What this means is that the insurance provider of your now former employer is obligated to continue paying you any benefits that were awarded, including wage loss and medical benefits. Ceasing your relationship with an employer after experiencing an injury that qualifies you for workers’ compensation coverage does not entitle an insurer to stop paying your benefits.
If you feel pressure to return to work, or your compensation was based on a refusal to do so, note that only doctors can determine your suitability for work. Contact a workers ‘compensation attorney if you are being pushed to return to work or to accept partial disability for injuries that might qualify you for complete injuries.
It is important to understand that insurance companies do not work for injured persons; they work for profit, which is made by maximizing revenues and minimizing costs. Insurance companies deny or reduce claims to increase profits, and oftentimes, their teams of attorneys and claim analysts can be too much to handle on your own when you are trying to recover from your injuries. If your benefits have been wrongfully denied, stopped, or reduced, a PA workers’ compensation attorney can help.
To learn how one of the PA workers’ compensation attorneys at Vanasse Law can help you navigate the complexities of your case, visit our site to schedule your free initial consultation.
When preparing for your consultation, it is helpful to gather as much information as you can about your injury, the related costs, and why your benefits are being targeted or have been declined. We’ll review the key data about your case, and if it is something we can help you with, we will discuss how our attorney-client relationship will work.
Through the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act, employers are generally required to carry workers’ compensation insurance to compensate employees who are injured on the job. These benefits are available for most work-related injuries and illnesses that happen while on the job or performing job-related duties.
If an employer fails to carry the workers’ compensation insurance required by law, employees who are injured can file lawsuits against them, and the employer can face not only state fines but also criminal prosecution.
While most injuries and illnesses that occur at work are covered, there are ways that you can be disqualified. A local PA workers’ compensation attorney from Vanasse Law, LLC is available to review your unique situation and negotiate the best outcome on your behalf with your employer or their insurance company.
Injuries that qualify will ensure that you receive coverage for your medical costs linked to your on-the-job injury, as well as lost wages. However, reasons you may be disqualified and unable to collect benefits include the following.
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, which means that you are able to collect without having to prove that your employer was at fault or even that you did not contribute to your injury. However, if you intentionally caused the injury and your employer can prove this, you’ll be disqualified from receiving any coverage or benefits.
Employees whose injuries were caused due to the use of illegal drugs and/or alcohol, or the intentional improper use of prescribed pharmaceutical drugs, will be disqualified from workers’ compensation benefits. However, please note that your employer has the burden of proving that your workplace injury was caused by such intentional intoxication.
Generally, employees must notify an employer of a work injury within 120 days by providing the required information and seeking the necessary medical attention; otherwise, the claim can be barred. To ensure timely reporting, employees are recommended to report their injuries within 21 days.
To escape liability, employers or insurance companies have been known to claim that an employee’s injuries happened outside of work or that the employee was an independent contractor who was not protected by workers’ compensation. These defenses are complex, and our workers’ compensation attorney can help advocate for your best interests.
To learn how the dedicated workers’ compensation lawyers from Vanasse Law, LLC can help you overcome any challenges to your benefits that could disqualify you, visit our site to schedule your free initial consultation.
Being injured on the job is one of the last things that you expect or hope to happen when you are working to support yourself and your family. While immediate medical care may address any threatening injuries, those that result in permanent scarring, disfigurement, and disability can be especially impactful.
If you’ve experienced life-altering, long-term injuries on the job, workers’ compensation provides you with the money you need to cover the costs and damages associated with your injury. When it comes to scarring and disfigurement, there are specific damages that your PA workers’ compensation lawyer can help you identify, measure, and collect.
Through rules published by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, disfigurement benefits are those that are paid when there is a serious, permanent, unsightly disfigurement to the head, face, or neck area. Disfigurement benefits are available for a period ranging from 1 week to a maximum of 275 weeks. The PA Dept. of Labor & Industry clarifies that there is no set payment amount for disfigurement benefits, noting that an agreement properly recorded through an agreement form between the employee and employer and/or their insurance carrier is necessary to determine the amount.
Negotiating what your disfigurement benefits are worth and how long you should be entitled to receive them can be difficult when trying to recover from your injury. With a skilled Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyer from Vanasse Law, LLC by your side, we’ll handle the entire process on your behalf.
If your injuries have led to long-term changes in your appearance due to scarring and other causes, you may be eligible for disfigurement benefits. Disfigurement benefits are generally paid as an additional element of your compensation beyond the temporary and/or permanent disability benefits that you may already be receiving following your workplace injury.
It is important to understand that accepting a settlement from the insurance company is a final amount and equates to the end of your ability to collect any additional compensation. Insurance companies make more money when they pay injured persons less, so offers of settlement are often for much less than you deserve.
Your PA workers’ compensation attorney helps you collect the evidence you need to accurately and completely measure your damages so that you and your family aren’t left covering costs linked to your injuries in the future.
To learn how an experienced workers’ compensation attorney from Vanasse Law can help you navigate your disfigurement claim or initial workers’ compensation claim after your injury, visit our site to schedule your free initial consultation.
Medical marijuana has provided a preferable alternative to pharmaceutical drugs for a variety of patients in Pennsylvania. The options available to persons who are experiencing chronic pain and a variety of other medical conditions in the United States were, as recently as the late 20th century, limited largely to opioids, muscle relaxers, injections, and a broad range of other drugs and treatments. These pharmaceutical drugs and treatments often have negative side effects and can lead to life-destroying opioid addictions.
If you have been injured on the job and mandatory drug testing revealed the presence of marijuana in your system, you may encounter difficulty collecting the benefits you need to cover the costs and damages linked to your injuries. Connecting with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney who knows how to navigate the legal complexities surrounding medical marijuana will support the best outcome in your claim.
Medical marijuana is governed by the PA Department of Health, which was signed into state law in 2016 to “provide access to medical marijuana for patients with a serious medical condition.” Despite the fact that a number of states have legalized medical marijuana in addition to variations on recreational markets that resemble alcohol, the Marijuana Policy Project notes that marijuana remains federally illegal.
Insurance companies may refer to federal legislation when attempting to deny or reduce the claims of injured persons who are found to be using federally illegal substances that may have led to them being “intoxicated” when the injury happened.
While medical marijuana might provide patients with legal treatment options, it is also important to understand that THC is different from alcohol in terms of measuring active levels in the body. While a blood or breath test can determine if an individual is chemically intoxicated by alcohol and a variety of other substances, marijuana lingers in the system for days or even weeks after the intoxicating effect has subsided. To collect on your workers’ compensation claim, it is essential to prove that you were not intoxicated by medical cannabis at the time of the accident. Working with an attorney familiar with navigating this complex process successfully can be extremely helpful for your claim.
To learn how an experienced local attorney from Vanasse Law can help you navigate the complex interrelationship between workers’ compensation claims and medical marijuana use, visit our site to schedule your free initial consultation. We’ll go over the important information about your accident and injury and determine what your case might be worth and how we can help if it’s a claim that fits with our focused and dedicated firm.
When you’ve been injured on the job in Pennsylvania and filed for the workers’ compensation benefits you are owed, it is possible that the insurer will request that you submit to a deposition. A deposition is testimony that is given under oath and can be used as evidence in your workers’ comp case. Counsel for the insurer will ask you questions related to your claim, and your ability to recover the compensation you are seeking can depend greatly on your answers. Because of this, the importance of being prepared cannot be overstressed. Following are some tips from our Lancaster hurt at work lawyers on being prepared for a workers’ compensation deposition.
The attorney for the insurer will ask you questions about events leading up to the accident, the accident itself, and events that have occurred since the accident. It is important that you know the facts of what happened and when they happened. Before the deposition, look at all the documents and evidence available to you and write down important dates and events, then commit these facts to memory. The counsel for the insurer may attempt to trip you up so that you will appear confused or that you are being intentionally false. Having a clear timeline committed to memory will help you stay focused and able to clearly and correctly answer the questions you are asked during the deposition.
Being injured and having to go through a deposition to receive the funds you are owed is extremely frustrating, and it is natural to want to be sure your story is heard in full. However, during a deposition is not the time to elaborate or speculate on what happened to you. When you are asked a question, answer it in a straightforward and clear manner. Do not embellish, speculate, or offer more than what has been asked. Keep your answers simple. When asked a “yes” or “no” question, answer verbally either “yes” or “no.” No further explanation is needed or wanted.
You may feel that you are unable to fully express your side of the story when you are forced to give such a direct answer. Keep in mind before the deposition is over, your lawyer will be able to ask you questions. This will be your opportunity to set straight any matter you, or your lawyer, feel has not been properly addressed.
Much of the nervousness brought on by a deposition can be mitigated by being familiar with the deposition process and the people that will be present. While all depositions may vary to a certain degree, in most cases your attorney will ask you questions first. Then, the attorney for the insurer will ask you questions. After that, one of your Lancaster hurt at work lawyers may ask you more questions. In truth, the attorneys may go back and forth several times.
The people at the deposition are generally:
A deposition does not typically occur in a courtroom, but it is a legal proceeding and the testimony taken there is admissible in a court of law. Therefore, it is best to approach the deposition with a serious and respectful attitude. Your attire should be business casual, and your demeanor should be calm and courteous.
Your credibility will have a substantial impact on how your case proceeds. If you appear to be truthful and reasonable, the odds are in your favor. Also, there may be times during the deposition when you feel you are close to losing your composure. When this occurs, you are allowed to ask for a break so that you have a minute or two to calm your nerves before continuing with the deposition.
Being deposed means being asked questions by the attorney for the insurance company. You can rest assured that their attorney will know the law and will be attempting to settle your claim for as little as possible. The last thing you want to do is go through this process without one of your own Lancaster hurt at work lawyers representing your interests and helping you obtain the benefits you deserve. Your lawyer will help you by:
Receiving the compensation you deserve after being hurt on the job shouldn’t be difficult. Unfortunately, it often is. The good news is that you don’t have to do battle alone. One of our Lancaster hurt at work lawyers at Vanasse Law, LLC, can guide you every step of the way to help you recover the compensation you deserve. Contact our firm today to learn more.
We know you have choices when it comes to hiring an attorney to help you with your on-the-job injury. Following are ten qualities we believe you should look for in a Lancaster workers’ comp lawyer before deciding whether or not you will hire them. Just remember, at Vanasse Law, LLC, we are proud of our reputation and the work we do and we don’t mind when you compare us to the competition because we know we will stand up to the test.
When you are considering a Lancaster workers’ comp lawyer, one of the first things you need to look at is their level of experience. How many cases have they handled? You may be able to find the answer on your own, but it is not a bad idea to straight-out ask about it. It is also a good idea to ask if they have handled cases with injuries and circumstances similar to your own.
Word of mouth is sometimes the best way to find out whether or not a certain Lancaster workers comp lawyer is worthy of your case. Simply ask around to friends and family that you trust. If they have a recommendation, find out if they have actually used that attorney. If not, find out if they know someone that has. It is always better to speak to the actual client of the attorney so you can ask specific questions about their experience.
You will want to find out how successful a workers comp attorney has been in prior cases. If you ask a potential attorney about their success rate and they make it clear they do not want to discuss it, keep in mind it may be because they are not allowed to under their professional rules and regulations. Still, it does not hurt to ask and be clear that you are inquiring about their cases in general, not any one specific case.
This is an important quality to look for. Some attorneys just dabble in workers’ compensation while others devote their entire practice to it. Workers’ comp is a niche area of the law and you need counsel that stays on top of what is happening and knows the ins and outs of how it works. It is best to look for a firm that dedicates all its resources to workers’ comp as they are more likely to know the best way to proceed in your case.
Some lawyers are bad communicators, while others have a system in place to address communication with clients. Ask how an attorney addresses client concerns. For example, you may want to inquire how long it takes to receive a response to a question you have. Also, is there an extra fee for questions asked outside of normal business hours? Will your concerns be addressed by the attorney or their staff? How often can you expect status updates? Asking these questions on the front end helps to ensure that you and your Lancaster workers comp lawyer are on the same page from the get-go.
Some firms are local to the area they practice in and their attorneys know the people, companies, and industries that make the area special. Other firms are satellite offices of larger firms and they rotate out-of-town attorneys to the local office. Sometimes these firms have one founding attorney that is the spokesperson, but it is rare that you ever actually see this person.
Having a Lancaster workers comp lawyer that actually knows your town is something that makes most clients feel more comfortable and understood.
When you meet with a potential attorney, gauge how they make you feel. Are you comfortable around them? It is important that you feel like you can talk to your lawyer and that they care about what you are going through. If you feel like you are a bother or that your case is unimportant to them, you should probably look elsewhere for representation.
Many workers’ comp cases settle outside of the courtroom, but others do not. You need a lawyer that knows when they are being lowballed and is not afraid of going to battle in the courtroom when necessary. Ask an attorney you are considering about their courtroom prowess.
Many workers comp cases are settled without going to court as it is typically the most cost-effective solution. An attorney needs to be able to effectively argue your case to ensure you receive a maximum settlement amount, and they need to know how to structure your settlement so that your benefits are maximized. For example, if you are receiving, or plan to receive, any type of government benefits, that will need to be considered when your settlement plan is established.
Is the attorney you are considering able to give your case the attention it needs? Or is their plate so full it is likely your case will be brushed aside? These are questions you need answered when you are choosing a Lancaster workers comp lawyer. Ask any potential counsel about their caseload and address your concerns. This is also a good time to find out about their staff and other resources. Does the attorney handle each case exclusively, or do they have staff to assist? There is no wrong answer to this question. It is just a matter of personal preference, but one that should be addressed.
A Lancaster workers comp lawyer from our firm will ensure you receive maximum compensation for your work-related injury. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you.
Workers’ compensation is a highly specialized area of the law, and like most areas that have their own rules and method of compensation, there are a lot of misconceptions about how the workers’ compensation system operates. Following are 10 common misconceptions the average worker has about their benefits.
Many workers think that their employer decides whether or not they have a valid claim and are able to seek workers’ compensation benefits. This is simply not true. The employer has 21 days from the time the employee provides them with notification of their injury to either deny the claim or issue a notice of compensation. If the claim is denied, the worker can then look at their options for appealing the decision.
This misconception has two parts: that the injury must be received on site and it must be received while actually performing job-related duties. First of all, in Pennsylvania, a worker may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if the injury occurred while they were furthering the business or affairs of their employers. In other words, it is not required that the injury occur on-site. However, if the worker was on-site when the injury occurred, they do not have to have been actively engaged in their job when the injury occurred.
Unfortunately, many workers are discouraged from making a workers’ compensation claim because they fear their employer will fire them or otherwise retaliate against them for filing the claim for benefits. Under Pennsylvania law, employers are banned from firing or retaliating in any way against a worker that files a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. If they do, then the employee should seek immediate assistance from an attorney.
A worker in Pennsylvania may be able to receive workers’ compensation benefits for an injury that they caused. This is not to be construed to mean that they will recover benefits for injuries that they intentionally caused to themselves. In other words, if the worker accidentally hurt themselves, they may be entitled to compensation. If, however, they purposely hurt themselves, they will not be entitled to workers’ compensation.
Filing a claim for workers’ compensation does not necessarily mean that the worker is able to stop working altogether. It depends on the nature of the injury, the doctor’s orders, and whether or not the employer is able to accommodate the restrictions put in place by the physician. For example, if the doctor says the worker can work as long as they are able to sit rather than stand while working, and the employer is willing to provide a chair and allow the employee to sit for the duration of their shift, then the employee cannot just quit. Doing so can jeopardize the worker’s ability to receive any benefits through workers’ compensation.
Some workers believe that if they have a previous injury or underlying condition they cannot recover workers’ compensation benefits for an injury. This is not the case. If a worker sustains a new injury that aggravates a pre-existing injury they should be able to recover workers’ compensation benefits.
Employees in Pennsylvania are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits even if they are not employed full-time. As a matter of fact, anyone injured while working is eligible, including part-time and seasonal workers. A worker should not refrain from filing for workers’ compensation benefits because they are not considered to be a full-time employee.
An occupational disease is a condition or disorder that occurs as a result of a person’s work activities or environment. Workers that develop a disease that is related to their occupation are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. An example would be if a person that works with coal dust is diagnosed with silicosis, a long-term lung disease. This could be considered a work-related occupational disease. Another example is when a person has a job that requires them to consistently be around noise that reaches 85 decibels or higher. This can result in permanent hearing loss for which they may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.
Far too many workers mistakenly believe that if their claim for workers’ compensation benefits is denied they have no recourse. There is an appeals process that they are able to go through to have that denial reconsidered. In many cases, claims that should have been approved initially are denied and it is only through the appeals process that the worker is awarded the benefits they are entitled to receive. Workers’ compensation insurance carriers actually count on workers simply accepting the denial and not pursuing an appeal.
Having a workers’ compensation attorney helping you with the claims process is greatly beneficial. Your lawyer will know how the workers’ compensation system works in your state and the steps you need to take to obtain the benefits you deserve. They are also able to clear up any misconceptions you have about your benefits, rights, and responsibilities. Finally, a workers’ compensation attorney will alleviate the stress that comes from fighting for your benefits without the assistance of counsel.
An attorney at Valnesse Law, LLC, can help you understand your rights and what you can expect from the worker’s compensation process. Contact our firm today to schedule a no-obligation initial consultation.