What this kind of matter generally involves
Social Security disability can involve questions about whether an injury is covered, what medical care is approved and what happens with time missed from work. The rules depend on your state.
What an attorney in this area generally does
An attorney who handles workers' compensation matters can generally explain your options under your state's rules, help with paperwork and deadlines, communicate with the insurer and represent you at hearings if there is a dispute. No attorney can promise a result.
When people often consult one
- Your claim is denied or delayed, or payments stop.
- You are discouraged from reporting the injury, or treated differently after you report it.
- The injury is serious, permanent or keeps you from going back to your job.
- Someone other than your employer — another company, a driver, an equipment maker — may have been involved.
- There is a dispute about your medical care, light duty or returning to work.
- You are offered a settlement and want to understand it before you decide.
How fees generally work
Many workers' comp attorneys offer a free first consultation. In workers' compensation, attorney fees are often regulated or approved by the state. Ask exactly how fees and costs work before you agree to anything, and get it in writing.
Questions to ask before you hire anyone
- How much of your practice is workers' compensation?
- Have you handled matters like mine?
- How do your fees and costs work, and will I get that in writing?
- Who will I talk to day to day, and how quickly do you return calls?
- What do you need from me right now?
- What are the deadlines that could apply to me?
Situations where this can come up
- Fell from scaffolding
- Fell off a roof at work
- Fell through a floor opening or skylight
- Crushed my finger in machinery
- Caught in a trench collapse
- Hit by a car while working on the road
- Tractor rollover on the farm
- Lost a finger in a machine at work
- Forklift tipped over with me on it
- Herniated disc from work
- Injured by a power saw
- Meat slicer injury
- Can't go back to my old job after an injury
Other kinds of cases
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first if I'm injured at work?
If it is an emergency, call 911. Otherwise get first aid or medical care, tell your supervisor, and report the injury in writing as soon as you can. Write down what happened and who saw it.
Is there a deadline to report a work injury?
Yes — but deadlines vary by state. Report the injury to your employer in writing as soon as possible and check with your state's workers' compensation agency for the rules that apply to you.
Can I see my own doctor for a work injury?
It depends on your state and your employer's program. Some require you to start with an approved provider. Ask your employer or the claims adjuster, and in an emergency go to the nearest emergency room or call 911.
Do I need a workers' comp attorney?
Not everyone does. People often consult one when a claim is denied or delayed, when the injury is serious or permanent, or when there is a dispute. Many attorneys offer a free first consultation.
How do I get my prescriptions after a work injury?
Ask the pharmacy and the claims adjuster how work-injury prescriptions are handled where you live. Many prescriptions can be filled at a local pharmacy or delivered to your home.
Is Prescriptions.plus a law firm or a medical provider?
No. Prescriptions.plus is an educational portal. We are not a law firm, medical provider, pharmacy, insurer or claims administrator, and nothing here is legal or medical advice.
This page is being expanded.
Prescriptions.plus is an educational portal. We are not a pharmacy, law firm, medical provider, insurer or claims administrator, and nothing here is medical or legal advice. Educational purposes only. Workers' compensation rules and deadlines vary by state — check with your state's workers' compensation agency. Medical emergency? Call 911. Hurt outside of work? Personal-injury legal help: attorneys.plus (coming soon).