In the unfortunate incident that you’ve sustained a work injury, you may be unsure when and if it’s necessary to contact an attorney to have a consultation over worker’s compensation. After all, if it’s a relatively minor injury and your initial doctor’s visit was covered, there’s no need to take it any farther, right? Not exactly. To make the process easier, Jack J. Schmerling, Attorney at Law, is here to help you.
When Should You Get in Touch With a Worker’s Compensation Lawyer?
As soon as you sustain a work injury, you need to get in touch with an attorney to avoid any ramifications. The law states that you have 120 days to report a work injury, starting from the date of injury or when you knew of the disease or illness. After 21 days, you won’t be able to recover worker’s compensation benefits until you do give notice, as long as it’s within the given 120 days. If you don’t do so, you cannot collect any benefits.
Various other deadlines apply to certain paperwork, and failure to respect these deadlines could minimize the amount of benefits you’re entitled to, which is why getting in touch with an attorney as soon as possible is recommended. Beyond that, there are some other specific moments when it’s strongly advised to get a worker’s compensation lawyer.
For example, if you file a claim after an injury, the attorney will help make sure that all involved are following proper protocol, including you, the insurance company, the doctor, and your employer. Another moment when it’s important to contact a lawyer is if your employer or your insurance company deny your claim. Your employer has 21 days to accept your claim. They can also choose to approve payment for the bills but deny payment for lost wages, accept your claim for 90 days if they’re unsure your injuries sustained were related to work (and can stop benefits anytime during the 90 days), or deny the claim if there isn’t enough evidence to support your claim.
Contact a worker’s compensation lawyer immediately if your employer tries to stop or modify your benefits. For example, they could try to reduce or even eliminate your benefits by trying to issue medical examinations claiming you’re fit to return to work even if you are still unable to, so an attorney will protect your rights. Also make sure to get in touch with a lawyer if your employer tries to control your medical treatment by saying that you can only visit a specific doctor; it’s important to make sure you receive quality medical care throughout the entire process.
Getting in Touch With a Compensation Lawyer
Don’t hesitate to contact us Jack J. Schmerling, Attorney at Law! Proudly serving the Greater Baltimore Metro Area, we can help you if you’ve suffered a work injury and need a lawyer to protect your rights to the fullest. Give us a call for a free consultation at (410) 988-4956!