When should I hire a Workers’ Compensation attorney?

Always seek medical attention first, but you should call a lawyer as soon as you can following a work injury or workplace accident. It is important that your Workers’ Compensation lawyer start investigating the potential claims involved as quickly as possible.

Fields Law Firm is here to answer your questions and help you understand whether you are receiving all of the benefits you are entitled to. And, because our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, you won’t pay us anything unless we get benefits for you.

It costs nothing to get answers to your questions –

There are also certain events during the claims process that are obvious signs the insurance company is getting ready to deny your claim. Here are the top ten red flags that should alert you to call Fields right away:

1. Your claim is denied.

If your Workers’ Compensation claim is denied by the insurance company, you should contact us immediately. Our Workers’ Compensation lawyers can explain the reason for the denial and if it was a good reason or a poor reason. Just because your claim is denied doesn’t mean you cannot still pursue it.

2. An independent medical examination is scheduled.

If you are scheduled to undergo an independent medical examination, you should also contact us right away. Independent medical examinations are anything but independent. If the insurance company is paying a doctor to examine you, they are most likely looking for a basis to cut off your benefits.

3. You are asked to give a recorded statement.

Giving a statement without consulting an attorney is a mistake. At Fields Law, our work injury attorneys can consult with you on what questions are acceptable to answer and what questions are not.

4. You are assigned a nurse case manager.

Nurse case managers neither provide medical services nor do they provide managerial services. They simply report back your actions to the insurance adjuster. If a nurse case manager is assigned to your case, call us for advice on whether your Workers’ Compensation claim is in danger of being denied.

5. You receive a Notice of Intent to Discontinue Benefits.

If your benefits are cut off, you will receive this form. Your time to challenge the discontinuance of benefits is short, and you should contact our law firm immediately for help. It is important for our Workers’ Compensation lawyers to have as much time as possible to build a strong case for you.

6. You get offered a settlement.

Insurance companies often tend to lowball settlement offers in an attempt to close your case early. Consulting with a Workers’ Compensation lawyer can maximize the compensation you are owed for your workplace injury.

7. The insurance company assigns an attorney.

If the insurance company has an attorney working for them, it’s important to hire an attorney who will work for you. You don’t have to navigate this process alone.

8. Your Workers’ Compensation checks seem low.

Insurance companies often make mistakes on how to calculate your wage and what you should be getting in wage loss benefits for your work injuries. Our Workers’ Compensation lawyers will investigate any potential underpayment, and could save you thousands of dollars.

9. Your checks are late.

If your Workers’ Compensation checks aren’t arriving in a timely fashion, or the adjuster is not returning your phone calls, hiring an attorney will take the burden off of you. Our Workers’ Compensation lawyers will contact the insurance company and tackle the issues directly, allowing you to focus on getting better. We are going to protect your rights, both now and in the future.

10. You have questions.

If you have questions that need answers, having a Fields Law Workers’ Compensation Lawyer on your side can erase that doubt and give you clarity about your future. Workers’ Compensation lawyers work a contingency fee basis, so you can always ask your attorney a question or go over any concerns with your attorney without having to worry how about how much it is going to cost.

Get a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer on Your Side

When an employee is injured at work there are a number of things that a Workers’ Compensation lawyer will need to do to navigate through the complex maze of Minnesota Workers’ Compensation laws and regulations including: special Workers’ Compensation statutes, rules and court decisions; Department of Labor rules; and various government programs.

This is in addition to dealing with the insurance company and its team of people who aren’t looking after your best interest, but rather are looking at ways to avoid paying your Workers’ Compensation benefits.

All too often, people attempt to go up against the Workers’ Compensation insurance company on their own, failing to realize that the insurance company has an army of people working behind the scenes looking for ways to deny legitimate claims.