Hire a Law Firm That Focuses on Work Injuries

If you are hurt and someone else is to blame for your injury and losses, you may file a personal injury claim to recover damages. However, when such an injury happens at work, you typically turn to your employer's workers' compensation insurance to get financial assistance to help you pay for your medical bills and lost wages.

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), approximately 4,113 preventable work deaths occurred in 2020. The NSC estimates that there were four million medically consulted injuries during the same year, with over $163.9 billion in costs. Statistics indicate that fatal injuries in the workplace were common in the construction industry, followed by transportation and warehousing.

Each state in the U.S. has its own specific workers' compensation laws. States also have steps that you must take to obtain workers’ compensation benefits for damages such as medical care expenses, disability, and lost wages. 

To receive maximum benefits for your workplace injury, it's advisable to enlist the legal services of a work injury law firm with relevant experience handling workers' comp claims in Virginia.

Why Do You Need a Work Injury Lawyer?

After sustaining a severe injury at work or becoming ill due to your job, you may wonder, "Should I hire a workers' compensation attorney or can I handle the benefits claim on my own?"

Workers' comp laws can be complicated. Remember, work injury laws vary from state to state. The state of Virginia applies the Virginia Workers' Compensation Act when handling and resolving workplace injury claims.

Some employers and insurance companies may attempt to unjustly limit or deny your benefits. Hiring a reliable work injury law firm ensures you receive proper medical treatment and care for your work-related injuries and a full settlement, covering your medical expenses and lost income.

You Were Involved in a Workplace Accident

Workplace accidents that you may be involved in may include:

• Electrical accidents
• Construction site accidents
• Fires and explosions
• Industrial accidents
• Slip and fall accidents
• Equipment and machinery accidents
• Exposure to toxic chemicals, heat, or cold
• Work-related vehicle accidents

If you've been involved in any of the above accidents, you should schedule a consultation with a reputable work injury law firm that can assess your claim and legal options to determine if you can file a workers' comp claim in Virginia.

Your Work-Related Injuries Keep You From Working

If your pain after a work-related injury or physical limitations make it challenging — or impossible — for you to perform your job functions, you may be entitled to compensation benefits that don't just cover your medical bills. 

Keep in mind that your work-related injuries may permanently force you out of work. For example, eye injuries caused by projectiles, radiation, pathogens, and chemicals may permanently impair your vision. In this case, you may require vocational rehabilitation benefits to cover:

• Training for a new job
• Retraining
• Placement costs
• Career counseling
• On-the-job training

You're Filing To Recover Loss of Income

After a workplace accident, it's normal to worry about how the injury or illness may impact your finances. For many workers in Virginia, suffering work-related injuries can be devastating financially. Especially if the company and its insurance carrier offer lowball compensation or entirely deny the claim. 

If you aren't sure how you are going to pay your everyday bills, or if you are worried that your work-related illness or injury may drain your life's savings, you might have no choice but to file a workers' comp claim for benefits. It may be worth your time to contact a work injury law firm in Virginia to find out if you have a workers' compensation claim.

You Need Legal Advice From a Quality Legal Team

If you are injured while at work, you must abide by the Virginia Workers' Compensation Act when filing your case. For instance, in order to be eligible to receive compensation benefits for work-related injuries, you must report your work-related incident within 30 days from the date of the accident. If you don't report your injury within this window, you may lose your right to seek compensation benefits.

Understanding workers' compensation laws and how insurance companies handle work-related injury claims may take time. Other potential red flags that you should be on the lookout for when deciding if you should hire an attorney include:

• You don't receive your compensation benefits on time.
• Your company denies your workers' comp claim.
• Your employer mistreats or fires you after filing a workers' comp claim.
• There's a third party involved in the workplace accident.
• Your employer fails to report the injury to their insurance company.
• Your employer doesn't have workers' compensation insurance.

What Would Happen if You Handled the Comp Claim on Your Own?

You are not legally required to have a workers’ compensation lawyer when filing a claim. In fact, some work injury cases can be easily settled without a lawyer. If you suffer a minor injury ordon't miss work due to an injury, you may not need to hire a lawyer.

However, some workers' comp claims are more complicated. Make no mistake, your employer and their insurance companies have experienced injury lawyers and claims adjusters on their side. Having a professional assessment of your workers' compensation claim never hurts.

Rely on the Right Representation for Your Work Compensation Claims

Insurers may employ dirty tactics and tricks when dealing with workers' comp claims. You should consider hiring a knowledgeable workers' comp lawyer who can interpret state laws and hold the insurance carrier or company accountable for their obligations.

Commonwealth Law Group is Virginia's go-to law firm for work injury cases. We help clients who've sustained work-related injuries get the compensation they deserve. Workers' compensation law firms like Commonwealth Law Group operate on a contingency basis, meaning you don't pay any upfront legal fees.

Contact our reliable workplace injury law firm to schedule your free initial consultation. We are here to help you.