Workplace accidents are not uncommon around the world, and New York City has a fair share of them. Even when safety regulations are in place, industries like construction and food services are commonly known as high-risk fields for injuries.
No doubt, injuries at the workplace can make you financially, physically, and emotionally vulnerable. However, consulting a skilled attorney is always a wise step in protecting your rights. If you’re having second thoughts on hiring an experienced workers’ compensation attorney in case of injury, worry not!
This blog is going to shed light on eight compelling and undeniable reasons why hiring a workers’ compensation attorney is crucial.
1. Evaluate Your Case
No wonder having a workplace injury can be a devastating experience. At some point, you might wonder, “What is my case worth? Or am I eligible for compensation?” To get an answer, you might seek advice from your friends, neighbors, and even co-workers, which will only make you fly blind.
Therefore, the first thing you need to understand is that not two cases are alike when it comes to workplace injuries.
That’s why the real benefit of consulting a New York Workers’ Compensation Attorney is getting an accurate evaluation of your case based on the attorney’s knowledge and experience in the field. This way, you will gain access to the legal knowledge to better understand your workers’ compensation case.
2. Saves You Money
It’s true that hiring an attorney for legal services is always pricey. But not many people know that workers’ compensation lawyers work on a contingency basis. This means they will be paid a percentage of settlement or award.
Moreover, there are no upfront charges, no fees for phone calls, and no retainer fee. You will pay the fees at the end of the case only when you get a settlement or award. The fee of the attorney is based on how much financial recovery you receive.
Therefore, hiring an attorney for an injury case can help you get a deserving settlement while saving your own money.
3. Ensure Your Rights Are Protected
When you’re dealing with an injury case directly with the adjuster, you need to be aware of your rights under the New York Workers’ Compensation Act. There’s a high probability that you might be refused to get compensation because you have a pre-existing condition, which is not true.
Moreover, the insurance company may send you for multiple independent medical exams to get evidence for your case. This can be an exhausting experience for you to handle.
However, by having a New York worker’s compensation attorney by your side, you can save yourself from being treated unfairly by the insurance company. A skilled and experienced attorney will do his best to protect your rights and help you to be compensated.
4. Help You Receive Deserving Benefits
Not many people are aware of this, but the most important variable in worker’s compensation cases is the average weekly wage. It is based on the amount of disability checks that you receive while you’re off work.
Another drawback is that insurance companies will try their best to undervalue your average weekly wage. In this case, you will be shorting yourself thousands of dollars during the case.
However, having an attorney by your corner will always assist you in making informed decisions for your case settlement and compensation. The attorney will also make sure that you receive the best and most deserving benefits from it.
5. Ready to Resolve any Problems
People suffering from workplace injuries only hire a worker’s compensation lawyer when any complication arises in the case. It can be a denial of medical care or any other benefit to recover from the injury.
Problems like these require serious attention from an expert who knows the procedure to resolve them. Therefore, hiring a workers’ compensation attorney is the wise decision to handle your case. When you have an attorney by your side before any problem arises, you will be quick to help them.
6. Provide Guidance
Being involved in a workers’ compensation case is a strange and confusing experience. You cannot count on the insurance company to offer you help and guide you about your rights. The reason is that the insurance company has the best interest in minimizing your benefits and suppressing your rights.
Therefore, it is advised to hire an attorney who is well aware of the system to help you tackle these obstacles. This way, you will receive genuine advice from the lawyer to protect your rights during the claim.
7. Handle All the Complications
Complications are part of legal cases. No matter how straightforward your situation is or how clear evidence you have, the other party can do best in their power to suppress your rights. If you don’t have access to the resources, they can use the information against yours.
Therefore, hiring an attorney is crucial to keep yourself one step ahead before any complications arise. An attorney with years of experience and extensive knowledge of the cases can utilize the expertise to handle complications in your case. This way, you will get peace of mind knowing an attorney will handle it well.
8. Screen For Third Party Liability Cases
If you’ve been injured in an accident at the workplace when someone else was at fault, you can also file a civil lawsuit in addition to pursuing your workers’ compensation case. This lawsuit is also known as a third-party liability case, which will help you get thousands of dollars in addition to compensation for your major injuries.
However, only a workers’ compensation attorney knows when there is a potential to file a third-party liability suit. This can give you guidance to make informed decisions leading to success.
Final Words:
If any accident happens, it’s natural to feel hesitant about involving a lawyer, perhaps worrying that it might seem confrontational. However, injured employees must know that hiring a lawyer is one of the smartest decisions they can make after a workplace accident.
Hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer will not only help in winning the claim but also protect your rights as a victim, so you won’t be deprived of any deserving benefit after the accident.
