Employers in Virginia are required to have workers’ compensation insurance for all their full-time and part-time employees. In case of a workplace accident, the injured victim can claim for compensation with this insurance, which will typically cover for things like medical bills and loss of wages. Filing a claim under workers’ compensation and getting the compensation that one deserves are not easy steps, especially because insurance companies are constantly trying to reduce their financial liability. If you were unfortunate to get injured at work, working with a Richmond workers’ compensation attorney can help in a big way. Here are some facts worth knowing.
Report your injury to your employer
This is a must for getting benefits of workers’ compensation insurance. However, it is not important to report the incident on the same day as you were injured. You have a window of 30 days to report your injury to your employer.
Don’t settle for less
If the insurance company knows that they have to pay compensation anyway to the victim, they will make an offer as early as possible. This amount is likely to be way lesser than what a person deserves, but since he/she is in distress, the insurance company would expect them to accept whatever is offered. Don’t make that mistake. If you haven’t consulted an attorney so far, make sure that you find one to know the true value of your compensation claim.
Talk to a workers’ compensation attorney
Make sure that you find a reliable attorney who specializes in workers’ compensation. They will guide you through the process and give a real idea of what to expect in terms of compensation. Keep in mind that many victims don’t know their rights when it comes to workers’ compensation, and there are cases where an employer has retaliated against an employee for reporting an incident. In such circumstances, your attorney is your best bet for standing up against what is wrong.
Filing a third-party claim
There are cases, where a third-party could be held liable for an accident, even though it happened within the workplace. Check online to find more on how to file such claims, or talk to your lawyer to know if such a case or lawsuit is worth pursuing.
A good workers’ compensation attorney can change the course of your claim and fetch the amount that you truly deserve. Check online now to find top-rated lawyers.