Accidents at work can be quite common. A broken arm from falling off a ladder or a back injury from lifting heavy objects are just a few examples. Workers who have been injured on the job can seek compensation from a workers compensation attorney Akron Ohio. This includes lost wages and medical bills.
Available Benefits
Workers who are injured on the job can receive a variety of benefits under the workers’ compensation laws, depending on what the injury was. These benefits can include:
• Permanent total disability benefits
• Permanent partial disability benefits
• Temporary partial disabilities
• Medical benefits
• Wage reimbursement benefits
• Vocational rehabilitation benefits
Workers’ Compensation Laws
The laws governing workers’ compensation lawyers are both governed by the legislation of each state and federal statutes. Both offer fixed awards to employees and their dependents in case of work-related injuries or diseases.
Most workers’ compensation laws make the employer liable for any injuries that occur during employment. This applies regardless of negligence by the employer or employee. To be validly liable for a claim, the injury must have occurred during employment. An employee-employer relationship is required.
The Attorney’s Duties
A workers’ compensation lawyer representing the claimant, the injured worker, has one goal: to help them get benefits. The workers’ compensation lawyer representing the defendant (employer or employer’s insurance company) has the goal to reduce the defendant’s liability.
The following are the typical job functions of a worker’s compensation lawyer:
• Gathering evidence and records
• Taking depositions from the claimant, doctors, medical experts, and other parties
• Conducting discovery
• Performing legal research
• Staying up-to-date with the latest developments in the law
• Drafting pleadings and findings of fact, motions briefs opinions, motions, motions, briefs, and other legal documents
• Cases before a judge
Lack of medical evidence and concrete proof is one of the main reasons workers’ compensation claims fail. An attorney must ensure this happens.
Specific Claimant Attorney Duties
The workers’ compensation lawyers representing the claimant must be able to understand the claims filing process and have compassion for the needs of the injured party. An attorney representing the claimant will usually:
• Answer questions for clients and guide them through workers’ compensation.
• Get in touch with your doctor and fill out the paperwork.
• Represent the claimant’s interests at hearings and trials, depositions oral arguments, mediations, arbitrations, and other proceedings.
• Provides benefits to injured workers, including medical care.
• Discuss the status of the injured worker with the worker’s supervisors
• Negotiate settlements for the claimant.
An attorney representing a top claimant should be able to negotiate well based on a fair assessment of the case’s true value.
Special Defense Attorney Duties
Attorneys assist self-insured employers and insurance companies to reduce their exposure and protect against workers’ compensation claims. They should be familiar with the claims handling guidelines for each business unit that they work with and be able to budget costs and calculate exposure. They should be familiar with billing procedures. Defense attorneys will:
• Represent employer or insurer interests at hearings and trials, depositions oral arguments mediations, arbitrations, and other proceedings.
• Contact claims representatives.
• Monitor loss and generate reports to alert management of trends and increases.
• Help with investigating accidents and trouble areas.
• Manage workers’ compensation costs.
• Prepare and submit reports as required by the company management.
• Attend claims reviews and coordinate with
• Make settlements for the insurance company
