Atlanta burn claims

by Denise Farley

If you are an employee who has suffered a work-related injury or illness, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. To give yourself the best chance of winning your case, hire an experienced workers’ comp lawyer. Call us now at (470) 268-5802 If any of the above apply to you, you should contact an experienced, dedicated, and reputable workers’ comp lawyer right away.

Burn Injury Claims

by Denise Farley

Many applicants simply give up pursuing Atlanta burn injury claims, while others try their best to navigate the workers’ compensation system on their own which leaves injured employees to face a complex system of appeals. Call us now at (470) 268-5802 If any of the above apply to you.

Atlanta Burn Injury Claims

by Denise Farley

Atlanta Burn Injury Claims

Atlanta Burn Injury Claims: How a Good Workers’ Comp Attorney Can Help Your Case.

If you are an employee who has suffered a work-related injury or illness, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Unfortunately, employers or their insurance companies may deny workers’ comp claims, even when they are legitimate—which leaves injured employees to face a complex system of appeals. At that point, many applicants simply give up pursuing Atlanta burn injury claims, while others try their best to navigate the workers’ compensation system on their own.

To give yourself the best chance of winning your case, hire an experienced workers’ comp lawyer. A lawyer can help develop compelling medical evidence to prove your claim, negotiate a settlement, and represent you at your workers’ comp hearing.

Hiring a dedicated and reputable workers’ compensation lawyer will give you a much better chance of getting the benefits you deserve. An attorney will communicate with the workers’ comp insurer on your behalf, gather medical evidence to support your claim, try to negotiate a fair settlement, and represent you at your workers’ comp hearing.

Remember that the claims adjusters and attorneys working for the insurance company are not looking out for you, and they will not hesitate to reject or reduce your benefits for dubious reasons.

Fortunately, there are several things a workers’ comp attorney can do to tilt the scales in your favor, including:

1. Develop Strong Medical, Vocational, and Other Evidence

Insufficient medical evidence is probably the most common reason why workers’ comp claims are denied. Even if your claim is approved, you are more likely to receive all of the medical treatment you need—and all of the other benefits you deserve—if you have strong medical evidence that supports your claim/case. An attorney can help develop the medical evidence by:

• gathering all the necessary medical records
• arranging or recommending treatment with certain physicians
• obtaining medical opinions from your treating physicians and through an independent medical examination
• representing you when you have been requested to appear and answer questions at a deposition, and
• conducting depositions of medical experts.

Several other types of evidence could strengthen your case, including:

• evidence showing your employer’s history of poor workplace safety or lack of training
• statements from friends and family members about your daily activities, or
• testimony from a vocational expert about your job’s physical requirements.

An experienced workers’ comp lawyer will understand, based on the strengths and weaknesses of your case, what evidence is needed to increase the chances of getting a good outcome.

2. Negotiate Settlement Agreements

When it is time to negotiate with your employer’s insurance company to reach a settlement, an attorney has the advantage of being able to estimate how much your claim is worth—that is, the amount for the benefits you should receive, based on a number of factors, including:

• the extent of your injuries and resulting limitations in what you can do
• your past medical expenses, as well as the cost of medical treatment you will need in the future
• whether you have lasting impairments and, if so, the extent of your permanent disability
• whether your employer owes you for past temporary disability (wage loss) benefits and penalties for late payments, and
• your previous wages.

Lawyers understand the negotiating tricks and tactics used by insurance companies, from low-ball offers to bogus “final offers” that really aren’t. With few exceptions, workers’ comp attorneys are more likely to engage in productive negotiations with insurers than claimants acting alone.

Your attorney can also ensure that your settlement agreement is properly written to avoid negative consequences down the road. For instance, if you are receiving or applying for Social Security disability benefits, an improperly-designed settlement agreement could cost you hundreds of dollars every month in benefits due to the workers’ compensation offset.

An attorney can also help you come up with a reasonable estimate of your future medical expenses so that it is taken into account when drafting the settlement agreement.

While it is true that workers’ comp judges must approve settlements, it would not be wise to rely on the judge to protect your interests adequately. In settlement negotiations for Atlanta burn injury claims, a lawyer is essential.

3. Represent You at Your Hearing or Trial

If you are unable to reach a settlement, your case proceeds to an administrative hearing or trial before a workers’ comp judge. During the “discovery” (or investigation) process, your attorney may take depositions of witnesses, do legal research, request your medical records, write your “pleadings” (petitions, motions, and responses to the insurance company), and make sure that everything is submitted on time.

At the hearing, your attorney will present a “theory of the case” (why you should get Atlanta burn injury claims benefits) to the judge, examine witnesses, make opening and closing arguments, and raise objections when the insurance company does something improper.

If you are not satisfied with the result of your hearing, your attorney can also help you appeal the decision.

4. Advise You on Third-Party Claims and Other Potential Benefits

In addition to a workers’ comp claim, you might have a personal injury claim against a third party (someone other than your employer) whose negligence caused or contributed to the injury.

Drivers and manufacturers of faulty equipment are frequent targets of third-party suits. A personal injury claim might be more valuable than a workers’ comp claim because damages can include pain and suffering and loss of potential earnings.

A lawyer can also advise you about your potential eligibility for other benefits, including wage reimbursement, vocational rehabilitation assistance, long-term disability insurance benefits, state short-term disability, and Social Security disability.

Workers’ Comp Attorneys’ Fees

Most workers’ comp attorneys work under a contingency fee arrangement, meaning they charge no money upfront and only get paid if you win your case. Many states strictly limit the amount workers’ comp lawyers can charge, with fees often capped at 10 to 20 percent of your benefits.

In addition, attorneys’ fees might need to be approved by the workers’ comp judge or appeals board in some states.

When to Contact a Workers’ Comp Attorney

If your workers’ compensation claim is simple, straightforward, and low value, you might be able to get away with representing yourself. But there are a number of situations in which hiring a lawyer is critical, including if:

• your claim is high value or you’ve suffered serious, long-term injuries
• you don’t have much medical evidence to support your claim
• your employer disputes your claim
• you are unsure whether to accept a settlement, or
• your claim has been denied and you need to appeal.

Atlanta Burn Injury Claims

If any of the above apply to you, you should contact an experienced, dedicated, and reputable workers’ comp lawyer right away. At Bobe & Snell Law Office LLC we have a team of lawyers with vast experience and great expertise to handle Atlanta burn injury claims meticulously to ensure you get the compensation that you deserve.

Call us now at (470) 268-5802 or contact us online to schedule your FREE, no-obligation case review today.

Atlanta Burn Injury Claims