Workers Compensation Attorney
You do not need to hire a workers’ comp attorney to file a workers’ compensation claim or negotiate a settlement. You are allowed to represent yourself at all stages of the workers’ compensation process.
However, an attorney may be able to support you by managing all of the legal work in your case when they represent you. This may include filing a claim, communicating with your employer or their insurance company, and managing all legal deadlines or paperwork in your case.
Why to Get an Attorney for Workers Compensation
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that were over 900,000 nonfatal injuries in the United States workforce in 2018 that required workers to miss days of work. Vehicle accidents, repetitive stress injuries, slips, and falls, machine accidents, and construction accidents in Florida are some of the major causes of workplace deaths and injuries.
If your insurance company and/or your employer cooperate with your case and are willing to cover you or agree to a settlement that compensates you fairly, you may be comfortable handling the worker’s compensation process on your own. However, if you are uncertain about the fairness of a settlement offer or your rights, or if you are facing resistance at any stage of the process, an attorney may be able to help you by handling the legal work on your behalf.
How Much a Workers Compensation Attorney Costs in Florida, USA?
Many worker compensation attorneys in Fort Lauderdale handle workers’ compensation on a contingency-fee-basis with nothing due upfront. In this arrangement, clients only pay attorney fees if and when they secure benefits or a settlement offer.
A law firm will typically sign an agreement with a client in advance about what percentage their contingency fee will be. This can make working with a lawyer more accessible and less of a financial risk to many clients.
An Experienced Attorney Can Evaluate the Fairness of a Settlement
It is important to keep in mind that employers and insurance companies may or may not correctly determine the right value for your accident-related injuries.
An attorney may be able to assist you in accurately assessing your losses and damages. This can be especially important for a settlement offer, which may estimate your future costs of medical treatment and lost wages. According to Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, workers’ compensation settlements are voluntary. In other words, you are not obligated to accept a settlement that you do not believe is fair.
If a personal injury attorney in Fort Lauderdale believes that you are not being compensated adequately based on your injuries and the terms of your employer’s insurance policy, they may be able to take action on your behalf.
When to Seek Legal Counsel
You may wish to consider hiring a workers compensation attorney for your case if:
- There is any complexity or confusion about how your injuries occurred
- There is ambiguity about the severity of your injuries
- There is ambiguity regarding your coverage or applicable policies and payment limits
Examples of when you may want to hire an attorney are given below:
- Your employer refuses to cover your claim or delays issuing payments
- The settlement you are offered does not cover all of your losses and/or medical expenses
- Medical issues that arise after or as a result of the accident prevent you from returning to your job or limit the kinds of tasks you can perform at work
- You were retaliated or discriminated against for filing a claim
The Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato May Be Able to Help You
If you would like to learn more about working with an attorney on your workers’ compensation case, the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato offers free, no-obligation consultations to prospective clients. During this call, our team may be able to:
- Discuss with your Florida workers’ compensation lawyer for accident, injuries, and claim
- Explain what services we may be able to offer you
- Detail how our contingency-fee representation works
The Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato represents clients throughout South Florida. If you hire a Fort Myers workers compensation lawyer to represent you, our caring and attentive staff can be available to provide you with legal advice and updates at all stages of your worker’s compensation case.
To receive a free consultation on your case with a member of our team, please call the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato today at (954) 633-8270.
