When Should I Hire a Lancaster Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?
After suffering an injury at work, you may be wondering whether you should hire a workers’ compensation lawyer. While you are not legally required to hire an attorney to assist you in any way, it is highly recommended that you refrain from handling this type of claim on your own. The reason for this is because the workers’ compensation process involves many steps and deadlines, and it is not uncommon for employers and insurance companies to refuse to cooperate or provide the benefits that employees are eligible for.
Therefore, in order to ensure that the workers’ compensation process goes as smoothly and stress-free as possible, you should consider hiring a Lancaster workers’ compensation attorney immediately after experiencing an injury in the workplace.
What exactly can a workers’ compensation attorney help me with?
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, almost all Pennsylvania workers are typically eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. The main requirement is that you suffer an injury or illness at work or while carrying out your work-related duties. However, this does not mean that the process of getting these benefits will be easy and straightforward.
Many Pennsylvania workers have difficulties and challenges that arise throughout the process of obtaining workers’ compensation benefits. In order to avoid this, it is crucial that you have a workers’ compensation lawyer by your side, answering your questions and helping you overcome any complications that emerge along the way.
How soon should I hire a workers’ compensation lawyer?
It is in your best interest to hire a workers’ compensation attorney as soon as you are injured. However, if some time has passed since your injury and you have already begun the process, it is still a good idea to reach out to an attorney at your earliest opportunity. Here are seven different challenges and scenarios that indicate that you may need the assistance of a workers’ compensation lawyer:
- You have pre-existing injuries that were aggravated or made worse by your new workplace injury.
- Your employer or their insurance company does not believe that you were injured while on the job.
- Your workplace injury has turned into a permanent disability, and you may never be able to work again.
- Your employer is giving you a hard time or retaliating because you stated that you plan to file a workers’ compensation claim or reported your injury/accident.
- You don’t know how to start the workers’ compensation process.
- You believe a third party could be responsible for your workplace injury.
- You have questions and concerns about the workers’ compensation process.
Nearly all injured workers can benefit from having a professional workers’ compensation lawyer in their corner. The reason for this is because these attorneys have the experience, skills, and knowledge to help you gather evidence, find witnesses, communicate with your employer and their insurance company, appeal a denied claim, and more.
Is there a deadline for hiring an attorney and filing for workers’ compensation in Lancaster, PA?
The statute of limitations gives you three years from the date of your injury to file a workers’ compensation claim in Pennsylvania. Therefore, as long as your injury did not happen over three years ago, you can still hire a lawyer and file a workers’ compensation claim. However, to file a claim, you must have reported your injury to your employer no later than 120 days after it occurred to be eligible for workers’ compensation. These deadlines are very important, which is why it is essential to have an attorney who can work to ensure you meet all deadlines, while you focus on your recovery.
What are the pros of working with a workers’ compensation attorney?
A few of the benefits of hiring a workers’ compensation attorney include:
- They will ensure that you do not make any documentation mistakes, errors, or miss any deadlines.
- They will handle all communication with your employer, their insurance company, and other agencies in charge of your workers’ compensation claim.
- They may be able to increase your chances of receiving more compensation for your injuries.
- They can answer any of your questions and address any of your concerns regarding your workers’ compensation claim.
- They can appeal against the decision if it is denied and ensure that you are aware of your rights.
If you have recently been injured while at work, the Lancaster workers’ compensation lawyers at KBG Injury Law are ready and available to assist you. Our team has been helping clients with workers’ compensation claims for 40 years. We know the ins and outs of these types of claims as well as what is needed to help you prove your injury and obtain the workers’ compensation benefits that you deserve to get back on your feet again. Please call our office or complete our contact form to schedule an appointment with one of our attorneys today. We have offices in Lancaster, Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Hanover, and York for your convenience.
The personal injury attorneys at KBG Injury Law are all experienced litigators. Almost all of them represented insurance companies prior to becoming advocates for injured people, which provides them with a unique perspective and insight into how these companies operate. They also offer extensive courtroom experience if going to trial is the best legal alternative for the client.
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