Workers’ Compensation Injury?
Let Our Boston and Washington DC Injury Attorneys Help
If you have been hurt on the job, a Boston or Washington DC injury lawyer at Pollack & Flanders can help you understand the many complicated aspects of workers compensation laws and help you seek the help you need to get back on your feet. Workers compensation is a form of insurance that provides benefits to employees who suffer injuries on the job. These on-the-job injuries can result from accidents or simply the daily tasks that an employee performs. If you have been hurt on the job, you need to understand how workers compensation claims function in order to make sure you are receiving the compensation you deserve.
Workers compensation insurance provides a tradeoff: Injured employees receive payments and benefits if they are injured, and in return, it protects employer against lawsuits filed by injured employees. This means that an injured employee cannot sue his or her employer for negligence if workers compensation protects the employer, but state law requires the employer to provide coverage for an employee who suffers injuries on the job.
Workers compensation provides a number of advantages for injured employees. Primarily, it gives employees access to compensation very quickly. An injured employee should have little difficulty receiving medical treatment and additional payments for time spent away from work. Being hurt on the job and seeking medical treatment can obviously be a very stressful time for an employee, so not having to worry about fighting for compensation can be very helpful.
On the other hand, there are some disadvantages associated with workers compensation as well. In general, workers compensation insurance does not provide any coverage for pain and suffering or punitive damages. Workers compensation claims are made more complex by the various legislation that applies to certain industries such as construction work, work at sea (which falls under the Jones Act or the Merchant Marine Act of 1920), and railroad work (which falls under the Federal Employers Liability Act or FELA). Our attorneys understand intimately how these laws interact with workers compensation claims. We can help you determine exactly what sort of compensation you are owed based on which laws apply specifically to your claim.
Even though an employee cannot file a lawsuit against an employer protected by workers compensation insurance, an injured employee can oftentimes sue a third party. For instance, if an industrial worker suffers injuries on the job due to a faulty piece of machinery, he or she may be able to sue the product’s manufacturer in addition to receiving workers compensation benefits. In some cases, an employer may deny a worker’s compensation claim. If this happens, you will need an aggressive attorney to fight for your right to compensation.
The bottom line is that workers compensation is very complicated. If you have been hurt on the job, you need to know your rights so that you can receive the compensation you deserve. Our Boston and Washington DC injury lawyers have 35 years of combined experience dealing with workers compensation claims. We can explain to you what sort of benefits you should expect, help you negotiate with your employer to find additional work after you have recovered, and, if necessary, fight aggressively to defend your rights in court. Our team of legal professionals is intimately familiar with the intricacies of workers compensation insurance, and we are dedicated to helping you get back on your feet after suffering injuries on the job. So if you or someone you love is suffering from a job-related injury, contact a Washington DC or Boston injury attorney at Pollack & Flanders today. Someone will be available to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We will evaluate your case for free, and if you need us to help you file a lawsuit, you don’t pay us unless we successfully help you secure a settlement.
