While you might think that you can save money by not having to pay an attorney fee to an attorney, in many cases not hiring an attorney will result in an reduced and unfair compensation for your injuries. In most cases you need an attorney in order to receive fair compensation.
The workers compensation system has become more complex over time. There are deadlines for handling the various aspects of you claim and failure to meet a deadline may destroy your claim. Settlements are based on disability ratings and you need a fair disability rating for your injury from a doctor in order to obtain fair compensation, and the rating you receive from the company appointed doctor may not be fair. You need an attorney to help you obtain a fair disability from a neutral doctor who is not paid by your employer.
Once your disability rating is determined you need to determine how this rating is applied to formulas established under the workers compensation law. These formulas take into account various elements, including but not limited to, the body part injured, your compensation rate, and the amount of time you were paid temporary benefits while under treatment. Under some circumstances you will be entitled to future medical treatment and this needs to be a part of the settlement.
These issues need to be fairly resolved in order to obtain fair compensation. Most importantly, you need to understand that employers and their insurance companies have no legal obligation or duty to advise you as to your rights under the Workers Compensation Law. They have no legal duty to advise you as to how the legal issues should be fairly handled. Going through this process without an attorney exposes you to the risk of having your claim dismissed, losing your rights to future medical treatment, and failing to receive fair compensation for you injuries. These risks can all be avoided by hiring the right attorney. An attorney experienced in handling workers compensation cases will be able to guide you through this legal minefield and help you get the full and fair compensation you deserve.