Why You Should Always Hire a Lawyer When Fighting for Worker's Compensation

If you've filed for worker's compensation payments after an accident or injury on the job, you want to hire an attorney to go to court with you if the insurance company should decide to fight or deny your claim. There are many good reasons to consider having an attorney represent you no matter how solid of a case you think you have, and some of those reasons may surprise you. Note a few of them here so you understand the importance of proper legal representation.

1. The insurance company is going to court for a reason

To fight your claim in court, an insurance company will need to pay their own attorney and also risk losing the claim, so they face legal fees and the cost of your claim as well. This means that if they're fighting your claim in court, they must think they have a good chance of winning. Rarely will an insurance company risk the cost of legal fees and the cost of losing their case if they didn't feel they had a good chance of winning the case. You'll need a good attorney to determine why the insurance company feels they can win and then argue for you to reduce that risk.

2. Your rights may be at stake

If you make a claim for worker's compensation, you may wonder if your employer has the right to fire you, demote you, or otherwise retaliate against you. You may face some backlash for your claim and, in turn, may need an attorney to help you with that part of the process as well. You don't want to make assumptions about what your employer can and cannot do, but if you do face other complications from filing a compensation claim, a good attorney can ensure your rights are protected.

3. You may get a settlement offer

An insurance company may try to take you to court to fight your claim, hoping that you will simply fold under the pressure and not be able to find or afford an attorney to fight for you. Once you respond to the claim with an attorney by your side, the insurance company may then rethink their approach and may offer you a settlement even if their case is very strong. This can save them the money of litigation and the court case, and you may get a fair settlement that pays for your medical bills and other costs. 

For more information, contact experienced compensation lawyers in your area.