Life is unpredictable. If you ever end up getting injured at work, you need to take steps to protect your right to seek compensation for your injuries. In Arizona, all employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, which is a no-fault system. While the system is meant to be fair to injured employees, things don’t always pan out as expected. Working with a workers compensation lawyer in Phoenix can help you understand your rights and legal options. In this post, we are sharing a few mistakes that you need to avoid.
- Not reporting the accident. As an employee, you are required to report a work-related injury immediately to your employer. Failing to do so can impact your claim adversely. Remember that you wouldn’t be considered a troublemaker for reporting the injury.
- Not checking with a doctor. Do not underestimate the nature or extent of injuries and check with a doctor at the earliest. If you decide to file a claim and seek compensation for your injuries, the evidence, and medical documentation will matter. Do not let anyone tell you that you don’t need a doctor.
- Not hiring a lawyer. There is no law that makes it mandatory for an injured worker to hire an attorney. However, workplace accidents and workers’ compensation claims are rarely simple. If you don’t hire an attorney, you may end up accepting a lower offer, or when your claim is denied, you may not know the steps to follow. Hiring a lawyer is your best bet at winning a fair compensation for your suffering.
- Not fighting enough. Because a person is dealing with unexpected financial distress, they often end up accepting the first settlement. Your workers’ compensation claim could be worth more. Always let an attorney decide the worth of your claim and negotiate on your behalf. Lawyers know what it takes to evaluate such claims and see-through bad faith insurance tactics.
Finding the right lawyer
Not all attorneys specialize in workers’ compensation claims and appeals, and therefore, experience is a key factor for selecting a lawyer. Make sure that you hire an attorney for your case at the earliest. You can sort your options by checking online, and if you know people who have worked with workers’ compensation lawyers in the past, that could be an advantage too. Ensure that the lawyer you choose doesn’t have a conflict of interest and is not working for your employer or their insurer in any capacity,
