If you’ve been injured on the job, then you’ve probably already experienced the “good news/bad news” part of getting hurt while working in America – the good news is that your immediate medical needs were taken care of, the bad news is that you still need and deserve help.
This is the often frustrating reality of the workers’ compensation system. You get guaranteed benefits that barely address your needs and your employer gets to move on from the whole mess leaving you to pick up the pieces.
Like thousands of injured workers before you, right about now you’re probably wondering if you can get more out of your workers’ compensation benefits somehow.
Good news! You may have some options to explore for fairer compensation.
Finally, it pays to have someone else do the homework!
When it comes to getting more out of your workers’ compensation claim, there are two important things you can do that can make a world of difference.
First, enlist the help of an experienced attorney to investigate your claim and fight for the best possible workers’ compensation payout on your behalf.
Second, be prepared for the possibility of transitioning your case into a more lengthy personal injury claim.
The fact of the matter is that a skilled attorney can take a standard workers’ compensation claim and find the best ways to squeeze out all the benefits that may require a little extra persuasion. Like most things in life, you can usually get better results with the help of a knowledgeable and experienced advocate who knows how to fight your fights.
Also, depending on the nature of your injury, your workers’ compensation settlement may not be the end of the road. An empathetic and aggressive attorney will know how to investigate your injury to find aspects that may qualify for transitioning into a personal injury lawsuit.
So workers’ compensation isn’t the end of the road?
In simple terms, maybe not.
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, which means that you get very basic benefits no matter who was at fault in your injury, as long as it qualifies as an on-the-job injury. The trade-off for no-fault benefits is a greatly reduced ability to sue your employer.
If your injury was due to another person assaulting you, lying to you, lying about you, invading your privacy or stealing from you in a work environment, then your claims may expend beyond workers’ compensation into a lawsuit against your employer.
Also, if you believe that your injury may have been caused, in part, by a third party, then you might be looking at converting your workers’ compensation case into a third-party personal injury case.
These cases will generally take longer, and will involve separate consultations, but can greatly increase your fair compensation.
The best settlement isn’t going to come looking for you
No matter what your situation may be, the best outcome for your on-the-job injury is not going to come knocking on your door. You’ll have to go out and build a team to help you fight for it.
This may mean simply advocating for the best workers’ compensation package you can get, above and beyond automatic payouts, and it may mean converting your case from a workers’ compensation claim to another personal injury suit, depending on the specifics of your situation.
Explore your options for fair compensation with a skilled advocate who has your back, is protecting your rights and fighting for what is right.