Do You Need A Work Accident Attorney?
Accidents can happen on the job, especially when you work in a physical career that has its own set of hazards. If you're involved in an accident at work, you may be entitled to worker's compensation or even damages from your company, depending on the source of the accident. Here are four questions you should ask yourself when figuring out if you should contact a work accident attorney:
1. Do you require medical treatment?
You should always go to the doctor after you have any type of work accident, even if you feel fine. Some types of injuries take longer to manifest than others, and some injuries are impossible to detect without the right equipment. When you get checked out by a doctor, they will be able to tell you if you've suffered any head injuries, internal damage, fractures, or sprains as a result of your accident. If you don't require ongoing medical care, you probably do not need to hire an attorney.
2. Do you have any preexisting conditions?
It's not unlikely that you may suffer from a preexisting condition. Many people have old injuries that cause them problems on occasion. If your preexisting condition affects the same part of your body that was injured in your accident, your employer's insurance company may try to claim that they don't need to over worker's compensation for your injury. A work accident attorney will work with your doctor to prove that you did sustain additional injury as a result of your work accident.
3. Will you need to miss work?
Some injuries take longer to heal than others. If you will only miss work for a few days, you may choose to use paid sick leave instead of filing for worker's compensation pay. If you have a more significant injury that means you'll be out of work for longer while you heal, you should contact a work accident attorney. They can ensure you receive adequate compensation, which will allow you to take the time you need to recover.
4. Are you receiving any pushback over your worker's compensation claim?
Whenever you sustain an injury, you need to immediately report it to the appropriate parties at your job. If anyone tries to discourage you from filing a report about your accident or making a worker's compensation claim, you should contact an attorney at once. Your employer should be supportive of your right to file for compensation if you are rendered unable to work due to a workplace injury.
Contact a work accident law firm like Leisawitz Heller today to get the process started.