Can You Handle Your Own Worker’s Compensation Claim?

June 1, 2022

Woman in office on phone with blue arm cast, looking at watch.

If you need to file a workers’ compensation claim after a job-related injury, there is no legal requirement that you hire a lawyer to assist you. However, having the right legal assistance is always beneficial, and there are several scenarios when it is critical to have a workers’ comp attorney representing your rights.

How a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Can Help

Your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer is the one that grants your benefits. Like any insurance company, the insurer will likely try to limit the amount it pays out on claims. This means you might face obstacles, delays, or denials during your claim. The insurance company can use many tactics to limit or deny your benefits, including:

Challenging the cause of your injury or illness
Questioning whether all of your medical care or missed work was necessary

If you unintentionally say the wrong thing or the insurance company believes you do not need all the benefits you claim, it can be stressful and put you in a difficult financial situation.

Having a workers’ compensation lawyer handling the process can minimize the challenges you have to deal with. Your lawyer will handle all communications with insurance adjusters to ensure you do not accidentally say something that can jeopardize your claim. If the benefits or settlement offered are too low, your attorney can negotiate for the full benefits you deserve.

Overall, having a lawyer will ease your stress and allow you to focus on recovering from your injuries and continuing your medical treatment. This peace of mind is often more than worth hiring a lawyer.

When You Should Always Call a Lawyer

While it is recommended to have legal help for any type of workers’ compensation claim, there are situations when having an experienced workers’ comp lawyer is imperative to ensure you receive your rightful benefits. Some of these situations include:

Your workers’ compensation claim was denied
The insurance company will not cover all your medical expenses
The insurer cut off your benefits while you are still disabled
You were offered a settlement to replace ongoing disability benefits

If you experience any of the above, you should immediately reach out for legal help.

Importantly, you should never accept a settlement from an insurer without first consulting with an attorney. Insurance companies regularly offer lower settlements than necessary, and too many injured workers accept them. A settlement might seem like a fair offer when, in reality, it is not adequate to cover your future losses. Always have a lawyer review any settlement offers.

A Montgomery Workers’ Compensation Attorney Can Help

If you need to file a worker’s compensation claim in Alabama, you should never wait to contact a skilled Montgomery worker’s compensation attorney. At the Law Office of Richard F. Matthews Jr., we have experience handling all steps of the claim process. After an injury, leave the insurance negotiations and communications to us.

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The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established. These recoveries and testimonials are not an indication of future results. Every case is different, and regardless of what friends, family, or other individuals may say about what a case is worth, each case must be evaluated on its own facts and circumstances as they apply to the law. The valuation of a case depends on the facts, the injuries, the jurisdiction, the venue, the witnesses, the parties, and the testimony, among other factors.

With offices located in downtown Montgomery, The Law Office of Richard F. Matthews, Jr., serves Montgomery County, Pike County, Elmore County, Autauga County, the River Region of Alabama and throughout the State of Alabama, including Montgomery, Troy, Wetumpka, Prattville, Selma and Tuskegee. No attorney-client relationship is established by requesting a consultation or emailing Attorney Richard F. Matthews, Jr.. Information submitted in such communication is not privileged and may be subject to disclosure.