The single most important resource that you can have at your disposal after being injured on the job is a worker's compensation attorney. This type of attorney can assist you by making sure that your case is as strong as possible and helping to prevent any potential retaliation from your employer.
Making Your Case as Strong as Possible
Worker's compensation claims and cases can often be very difficult to win, mostly because many companies and their insurance providers will fight as hard as possible in order to have your claim denied so that they can save themselves some money. However, a worker's compensation attorney will be able to take steps that will make it much harder for an employer or insurance company to have your case dismissed.
One way that an attorney will strengthen your case is by making sure that you have multiple opinions from multiple doctors as to how you were injured and how severe the injuries may be. This is important because many employers or insurance companies may insist that you see a doctor of their choosing, which can be detrimental to your case, as they may refer you to a doctor that is known for underestimating the severity of workplace injuries.
Another way that your attorney can help you strengthen your case is by attempting to find and interview any of your co-workers that may have witnessed the accident. This can help disprove any claims that your employer may make that point toward your own negligence as the cause of your injury.
Preventing Potential Retaliation
Finally, an attorney can protect you from any backlash for filing your claim. In some cases, an employer may be resentful after you have filed a successful claim and may try to retaliate once you return to work. For example, common forms of employer retaliation can include wage cuts, demotion, transfer to less desirable jobs, or simply cutting your hours. In some cases, your employer may also look for any excuse to terminate you once you return.
In those situations, simply having an attorney on your side can often curb any retaliatory activities. If it does not, your attorney can also help you sue your employer for creating a hostile work environment, wrongful termination, or even harassment.
Speak to a worker's compensation attorney as soon as possible in order to discuss your options following a workplace injury. An attorney can make it harder for your claim to be dismissed while also protecting you from retaliatory actions from an angry boss following a successful claim. Speak with a representative from a firm like Ransom, Gilbertson, Martin & Ratliff, L.L.P to get started.
