Workers’ Compensation Lawyer | Workplace Injury Claims

What Is Workers’ Compensation & How Does It Work?

Workers’ compensation is a state-mandated insurance program that provides financial and medical assistance to employees who suffer job-related injuries or illnesses.

When you suffer a job site accident, the workers’ compensation system is supposed to cover specific economic losses, including medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and a portion of your lost wages while you are unable to work. In some cases, where the injury results in permanent impairment, it also provides disability benefits.

To access these benefits, you must file a workers’ comp claim within the deadlines set by your state’s laws. Failure to report the injury or file the necessary paperwork on time can result in a forfeiture of your rights. And that is just one of the potential pitfalls you may run into when navigating the workers’ comp system.

Even if you file everything correctly and on time, insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts. They may scrutinize your medical records, question the severity of your injury, or argue that the accident didn’t happen within the scope of your employment. If you have an experienced and knowledgeable workers’ compensation claim lawyer on your side, you will be better prepared to argue for yourself.

At Kanner & Pintaluga, we help you with all the procedural hurdles. We ensure that your workers’ comp medical benefits claim is properly documented and that you receive everything you are entitled to under the law.

When Should You Hire an Attorney for Your Workers’ Comp Claim?

In an ideal world, the workers’ compensation system would work toward your best interests. Unfortunately, the reality is rarely that simple.

While minor injuries that require only a doctor’s visit and no time off may not need legal intervention, many cases do. If your injury keeps you away from work for a significant period or requires surgery, medical bills and lost wages will quickly add up. If you’re looking at permanent impairment, you might not be able to work for the rest of your life.

It’s situations like this when you should consider an attorney for your workers’ comp claim. If you face resistance from your employer or their insurance carrier, it’s a good idea to seek work injury legal advice immediately. Negotiations won’t get any easier as you go through the process.

Here are some other signs that you need an experienced job injury lawyer by your side:

• Your claim was denied: Insurers often deny claims by arguing the injury wasn’t work-related or that you missed a filing deadline. A workers’ comp claim lawyer can investigate the denial and help build a strategy to overturn it.
• You have a pre-existing condition: Insurance companies may try to avoid paying by blaming workplace pain on old injuries or age-related degeneration. An experienced attorney can help validate a new injury to ensure you are covered.
• The settlement offer is too low: If the insurance company offers you a lump sum to close your case, do not sign anything without consulting a workers’ comp settlement attorney. These initial offers rarely account for future medical needs or the full extent of your lost earnings.
• You are unable to return to work: If your injury has led to a permanent disability that prevents you from performing your old duties, you are entitled to specific benefits. You need a workers’ compensation benefits lawyer to ensure you are compensated for your loss of livelihood.
• You plan to apply for Social Security Disability. If your settlement isn’t structured correctly, it can drastically reduce potential Social Security Disability payments. An experienced attorney knows how to draft settlement documents with your best interests in mind.
• You face retaliation: It’s against the law for an employer to fire or demote you for filing a claim. They also can’t harass or intimidate you. If you experience any of this, you need immediate legal support.

Knowing when to appeal a denied workers’ comp claim or when to negotiate for a better settlement is never easy. The decision you make today can impact the benefits you receive in the future. Having a professional in your corner is the best way to make the right choices for you and your family.

Our Experience Handling Complex Workplace Injuries

Workplace injuries come in many forms, including sudden, catastrophic accidents and conditions that develop slowly over time. At Kanner & Pintaluga, our legal team has extensive experience handling a broad range of injury types across all industries.

We frequently represent clients suffering from:

• Construction site injuries: We handle claims involving scaffolding falls, machinery malfunctions, electrocutions, and falling debris. These cases often involve severe trauma requiring long-term rehabilitation.
• Repetitive stress injuries (RSIs): Not all injuries happen in a split second. Office workers, assembly line staff, and laborers often suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, or back strains due to repetitive motion. Proving these are work-related can be difficult without a workers’ comp lawyer on your team.
• Occupational illnesses: Exposure to toxic chemicals, mold, asbestos, or hazardous fumes can lead to severe respiratory issues and cancers. We fight to link these long-term illnesses to your workplace environment and win the compensation you deserve.
• Commercial driving accidents: Delivery drivers and truckers often have both a workers’ compensation claim and a separate personal injury case against a third-party driver. We can coordinate both to maximize your recovery.
• Catastrophic injuries: We have experience with cases involving traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), spinal cord damage, and amputations. These life-altering events require a workers’ comp benefits attorney capable of calculating the lifetime cost of care, home modifications, and other permanent expenses.