The Right Time for Hiring a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

When in pursuit of workers’ compensation - there comes a time necessitating, for justice, the need for legal aid. But when is that time? After all, lawyers aren’t cheap, especially the workers’ compensation lawyers in PA.

We’ve prepared this simple guide to help you decide the right time for hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer.

Working without Employment

It’s not uncommon for blue-collar workers, especially those of Spanish origins, to be working under oral agreements. This lack of formal documentation is detrimental to claiming your dues, as workers’ compensation is only meant to cover employees, not private contractors.

If you’ve been working on an oral agreement instead of a formal contract, contact your lawyer as soon as possible. Because, in all likelihood, your employer’s going to challenge your claims under the pretext that you’re not an employee.

Subpar Treatment

Due to the rising costs of medical treatments, Pennsylvania’s Workers’ Compensation Act was amended to allow employers to designate a list of physicians whom employees can get treatment from. Failure to comply can result in forfeiture of compensation claims.

Although the state requires that your treatment not be jeopardized in lieu of saving costs, it’s not rare for employers to influence doctors into understating your injuries. So contact a lawyer if you feel that you’re not getting the proper treatment; the reliable workers’ compensation lawyer in PA, will help you get a second opinion.

Injured outside the spatial and temporal bounds of the workplace

Not all accidents happen inside the bounds of the workplace or within your work hours. And workers’ compensation is by definition awarded for workplace injuries. Even so, as per the state’s workers’ compensation laws, you’re still entitled to your claims if the incident happened within proximity to your workplace and hours.

But these provisions are more guidelines than exact dictations, leaving them open to interpretation. You can be sure that your employer will be interpreting them to mean that you don’t deserve any compensation. Rather than being your own advocate, hire a lawyer to represent and argue your case before the Workers’ Compensation Board.

Vocational Assessment

Treatment and lost wages, that’s what you’re entitled to under Pennsylvania’s Workers’ Compensation Act. And just as costs of your medical bills will be assessed by a physician, the validity and extent of your lost wages will also be assessed by someone as well.

To do so the employer will call you for a vocational assessment interview where a professional will determine if you’re capable of finding reasonable work or not. Having legal validity, the assessment will be used by the board to determine the compensation for your lost wages. So make sure that your workers' compensation lawyer in PA the question are relevant to your condition and expertise.

Lastly

Consult a lawyer regardless of whether you’re looking to hire one or not. Because depending upon the particulars of your situation, in addition to treatment and lost wages you might be entitled to punitive damages as well. Plus, most workers’ compensation lawyers will happily offer free-of-charge consultations.

John Smith is a workers compensation attorney and job injury lawyer in Pennsylvania. He is part of one of PA's best workers comp attorney settlement firm.