We often receive calls from injured workers who are not sure whether they need to hire an attorney. On a daily basis, one of the most common questions we receive is: Do I need to hire a workers’ compensation attorney? Every case is different, so there is no automatic answer to this question. However, there are several important issues which frequently come up in work comp cases which an attorney would be able to provide immediate assistance. Keep reading to learn how a workers’ compensation lawyer can help you with your case from one of the best workers’ compensation attorneys in Illinois at Eames Law Group.
To begin with, if your employer is not paying for all your related medical treatment, that is a big problem. Your employer should be paying every penny of related medical treatment through their workers’ compensation insurer or claim handler. You should not have to use your group health insurance, or pay any deductible or copayments. If your bills are not getting paid, or if you are paying yourself, that is a big red flag and it is something that an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can assist with immediately.
Another problematic issue which frequently occurs is when an employer is directing all medical care for the injured worker and refuses to allow you to see your own doctor. It is common for employers to claim that the only way your medical bills will get paid is if you see their doctors, and they will refuse to pay for or approve any other treatment. This is contrary to established law. You have the absolute right to see at least one doctor of your choosing who is independent from whatever medical network has been established by your employer. A good workers’ compensation lawyer can help with this immediately to ensure you are getting appropriate medical treatment from an unbiassed medical provider.
A big warning sign that you need to hire a workers’ compensation lawyer immediately is if you are off work due to an injury, but you are not receiving any work comp payments, or pay from your employer. The law requires your employer to pay temporary total disability benefits if you are medically restricted from work due to a work injury, but your employer cannot or will not accommodate your work restrictions. If you are not receiving any payments, or if you are being paid less than you think you should be, that is a reason to immediately contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to discuss your rights and fight for your benefits.
Even if your employer is seemingly doing what they should be doing by paying for medical treatment and paying disability benefits, it is still smart to talk to one of the best workers’ compensation attorneys in Chicago to discuss the law and protect your rights. The workers’ compensation process involves a great deal of paperwork and red tape. It is common for unrepresented individuals to make mistakes along the way, which can jeopardize the case and put your job and livelihood at risk.
Sometimes an insurance company will try to offer a workers’ compensation settlement which is much less than what could be obtained by a good workers’ compensation lawyer. Also, employers and insurance companies may try to use a potential lump sum settlement in an effort to make you sign away your rights to future medical treatment or disability benefits. Even if you receive a settlement offer, you should contact our office for a free consultation to discuss your rights.
Eames Law Group, Ltd. never stops fighting for our clients, and we will aggressively push cases to trial in order to obtain justice when insurance companies attempt to trample on the rights of our clients. If an insurance company has denied your work comp claim or refused to pay work comp benefits, you owe it to yourself to contact one of the best work comp attorneys in Chicago, to discuss your rights. Our firm has been elected to state leadership positions in the area of work comp law, and frequently lectures to other attorneys regarding law, and trial strategies in Illinois work comp cases. If you have been injured, you should immediately contact Brent Eames for a free consultation to discuss your options.
The content of this blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute or establish an attorney-client relationship, nor constitute legal advice. If you wish to discuss any further aspect of the material contained herein, please contact an attorney at Eames Law Group, Ltd.
