Work-related accidents occur every single day, and regardless of what industry you work in, you might find yourself the victim of an accident. Whether you’ve been injured in a machinery-related accident or you’ve developed a chronic disease associated with your profession, workers compensation is designed to protect you and your family from financial ruin. It is an unfortunate reality that the workers compensation claims process can be very difficult to navigate — especially if you’re trying to recover from a serious injury.
If you’ve been injured on the job, our firm may be able to help you, too, file a workers compensation claim successfully.
Eligibility for Workers Compensation
If you’re considering filing for workers compensation, it’s important to determine whether or not you are eligible for this program. The first step you’ll want to take after an accident — and after you’ve sought medical care for your injuries — is to inform your employer of your injury. If your employer has a workers compensation policy, your next step will be to file a claim with the insurance provider.
There are a few general requirements that determine eligibility for workers compensation. First, if your employer doesn’t have a workers compensation policy, you cannot file for this coverage. Second, your injury must have occurred while performing a work-related task or while you were on the job site. Third, you’ll need to be a direct-hire employee of the business through which you’re filing for workers comp.
Workers Compensation vs. Civil Suits
Workers compensation policies offer many of the same types of compensation that personal injury lawsuits might cover. However, you’ll likely only be eligible for one of these options — not both. If you have the ability to file for workers compensation, you likely will not be able to file a civil suit if your workers comp claim is denied.
Luckily for American employees, you don’t need to prove that another party was negligent in order to file for workers compensation. This is a stark difference from a main requirement in a personal injury civil lawsuit.
If you have any questions about which compensation option applies to your situation, don’t hesitate to contact a workers compensation lawyer.
Talk to a Workers Compensation Lawyer
If you believe you have a valid workers compensation claim, don’t wait to get started. You only have a certain amount of time to file a claim and you’ll want to make sure that you don’t miss this time period.
At [law firm], we know how important it is to get compensated after sustaining a serious work injury. Workers compensation is intended to financially protect employees after they’ve been injured at work. Remember, this is a benefit that you, as a hardworking American, may be entitled to receive.
Our firm is proud to offer trusted legal counsel to those who wish to file for workers compensation. We also provide free consultations for anyone who would like more information about the claims process. In the event that you feel that you need legal advice, do not hesitate to contact Milwaukee work injury lawyer at any time.
Thank you to Hickey & Turim SC for providing great insight on workers compensation.