When someone has been injured on the job, there are many questions that come up their mind. Should I tell my employer I've been injured? How will I afford the medical bills? Is the injury going to prevent me from continuing to work? Can I qualify for workers' compensation? All these are great questions, and some may be too worried about what their employer will say to follow up with them. If you are worried about workers' compensation, then you should consider a free consultation with a workers compensation lawyer in Phoenix to look at your options; and if needed, hire them to help your case.
When Should I Hire a Workers Compensation Lawyer
As soon as you have been injured, and if it is going to affect you on your job, you should consider filing for workers' compensation. Applying is straightforward, and you should be able to get your claim, but if you suspect that there may be any issues, then you should contact a workers' compensation lawyer in Phoenix for at least a free consultation.
If you have filed and you get denied, or minimal compensation, then it is time to consider hiring a workers compensation lawyer in Phoenix to work on your case to maximize the benefit you receive so that you can afford your medical bills and lost pay from your time off recovering.
If you have been left permanently disabled by your injury, then hiring a workers compensation lawyer in Phoenix is a must to ensure you get all the compensation you are going to need to be able to afford the lifetime affliction. Having a pre-existing condition can also complicate the application process because insurance companies will often try to pin the issue on that, rather than on the injury you sustained on the job. Insurance companies may even delay or block you from receiving treatment if they do not believe your medical condition warrants certain surgeries or medications. They may also force you to use their doctors, which are going to be less impartial with their diagnosis, affecting your permanent disability rating, which can lower the amount of compensation you are owed.
A workers comp lawyer in Phoenix will ensure that all the necessary doctor's notes and other medical files are properly filed to force the insurance company to do the right thing with a fair and speedy settlement to get your treatment beginning as soon as possible.
Are you already on certain government benefits, such as SSDI? With the help of a workers compensation lawyer in Phoenix, you can ensure your other benefits are affected as minimally as possible.
I Am Worried My Employer Will Hold My Claim Against Me
Arizona Revised Statutes. § 23-1501(3)(c)(iii), as follows:
3. An employee has a claim against an employer for termination of employment only if one or more of the following circumstances have occurred:
(c) The employer has terminated the employment relationship of an employee in retaliation for any of the following:
(iii) The exercise of rights under the workers' compensation statutes prescribed in chapter 6 of this title.
Many people may delay or even completely avoid filing for workers' compensation if they believe their employer will treat them differently afterward or will punish them directly for it. You need to know that employers cannot retaliate against an employee for filing a claim, and hiring a workers compensation lawyer in Phoenix will ensure that your employer follows the laws because they will hold your employer accountable for their actions.
Contacting a Workers Compensation Lawyer
If you are looking for a workers compensation lawyer in Phoenix for a free consultation, contact Rios Law Firm PLLC today to schedule an appointment with an experienced workers compensation lawyer.