Nationwide Workers’ Compensation Attorneys

You’ve spent your life working hard. You do honest work for honest pay. But now, you’ve been hurt on the job. You are suffering, unable to work, and afraid that your injuries may be permanent. As you recover physically, you must navigate the workers’ compensation system.

The Lento Law Group knows that a workplace accident can undermine every aspect of your life. From the physical and emotional toll of the injury to the devastating financial impact of being unable to work with mounting medical bills, your future seems uncertain. We understand that you and your family need fair compensation after your injury, and we can fight on your behalf for the justice you deserve.

The Lento Law Group has created a network of licensed attorneys and law offices across the country, allowing us to provide clients with an experienced and dedicated nationwide team committed to their best interests. Our workers’ compensation attorneys can help you through every step of the workers’ compensation process, from preparing an initial claim to appealing a denial.

Workers’ compensation cases can be complex, often involving serious and long-lasting injuries, and emotional, as an individual’s inability to work creates significant financial and familial stress. Let the Lento Law Group navigate the workers’ compensation process on your behalf so that you can focus on what matters: taking care of yourself and your loved ones. Call the Lento Law Group at 833-536-8652 to request a confidential consultation.

What is the Workers’ Compensation Process?

After a workplace accident, both the employee and employer involved have important roles to play in the workers’ compensation process. After being hurt, the injured employee must notify their employer and seek medical attention. Then, the employee and employer will submit a claim to the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company, including supporting documents. The employer may ask the injured employee to attend a medical appointment with specific medical providers as part of the claim.

The insurance carrier will review the submission and determine if the claim is approved or denied. If the claim is denied, the employee may appeal the decision. Our experienced workers’ compensation attorneys can help appeal your case with the appropriate state agency.

If the insurance company approves the claim and offers you a settlement, you can consider if the settlement amount is reasonable. If you believe the settlement is inadequate, you can ask for an amount that better accounts for your injuries and losses. The Lento Law Group regularly negotiates with insurance companies, fighting for our client’s best interests. If settlement negotiations reach a stalemate, it may be necessary to file a formal claim with the appropriate state workers’ compensation agency.

Every state has its own specific workers’ compensation process, including deadlines for filing an appeal and specific documents, forms, and evidence that must be included in the submission. The failure to properly file an appeal can eliminate your opportunity to receive workers’ compensation benefits.

State appeal processes often involve mediation, dispute resolution, or a formal hearing with a workers’ compensation judge or board. Because the Lento Law Group collaborates with experienced legal teams across the country, we can help you navigate the workers’ compensation process anywhere in the United States. Let our attorneys fight for the compensation and justice you deserve.

What Types of Injuries Qualify for Workers’ Compensation Benefits?

Injuries commonly involved in workers’ compensation claims include:

·       Strains, sprains, and tears to soft tissue including tendons, ligaments, and muscles.

·       Broken bones. A workplace accident could involve breaking almost any bone in the body, including hand, arm, elbow, foot, ankle, or leg bones. Skull fractures and spinal disc fractures are among the most serious skeletal injuries to occur in workplace accidents.

·       Cuts and lacerations from sharp objects, such as knives, machinery blades, and broken glass. While often occurring on hands and fingers, these types of injuries can vary from minor abrasions to deep lacerations.

·       Repetitive stress injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome, tendonitis, and rotator cuff injuries.

·       Car or other vehicle accidents.

·       Injuries from machinery accidents that often result in broken or crushed bones, cuts and lacerations, and internal organ injuries.

·       Chemical exposure that may cause chemical burns, respiratory problems, skin conditions, organ damage, and other conditions. Hazardous chemicals, such as acids, arsenic, asbestos, benzene, lead, mercury, silica, beryllium, and cadmium, are often involved in workplace accidents. An employee may sustain an injury from skin coming into direct contact with chemicals while breathing in toxic fumes or after ingesting hazardous substances.

Workers’ compensation insurance also covers injuries sustained while an employee is working, even if they are outside of or offsite from their normal worksite when the accident occurred. For example, an employee should be eligible for workers’ compensation if injured while attending a meeting on behalf of their employer.

What Types of Expenses Does Workers’ Compensation Cover?

Workers’ compensation is intended to provide the financial resources that an employee needs after suffering a workplace injury. These costs may include:

·       Medical treatment expenses, including doctor’s fees, lab tests, and pharmacy charges.

·       Income from lost wages.

·       Disability benefits if an employee’s work-related injury resulted in a permanent partial disability or a permanent total disability. Disability benefits may be paid in a lump sum or gradually over a longer period.

Additionally, if an employee dies from injuries sustained at work, their survivors may be entitled to survivor benefits.

To prove the extent of your injuries, the wages you have lost during your recovery, and any permanent disability, it is essential that thorough records be collected and maintained. The Lento Law Group’s team of dedicated workers’ compensation attorneys can help analyze, organize, and prepare your workers’ compensation claim and supporting evidence.

What Should You Do After a Workplace Accident?

If you’ve been hurt in a workplace accident, your priority must be informing your employer of your injury and seeking treatment.

It is never too soon to contact the Lento Law Group for assistance after a workplace injury. If you know or suspect that your injury may prevent you from working, the Lento Law Group’s team can help you take the first steps in making a strong workers’ compensation claim, and we can help ensure your claim meets applicable filing deadlines.

To prepare for filing a workers’ compensation claim, you must save and organize the information and medical documents related to the accident, including:

·       Incident reports from your workplace.

·       Hospital or other medical records, including diagnostic test results, X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and treatment plans.

·       Bills and receipts for medical expenses for the treatment of the injury.

These documents, usually created or generated immediately after your injury, provide critical information about the accident and your injury.

You will also want to find and organize your pay stubs and other financial documents necessary to demonstrate your lost wages.

Why Are Workers’ Compensation Claims Denied?

Workers’ compensation programs are intended to provide critical financial support to individuals harmed at work by avoiding long-pending litigation. Despite these best intentions, an employer may contest an injured employee's claim, or an insurance company may deny coverage for an injury. Common reasons for an insurance carrier to deny a workers’ compensation claim include:

·       Your workplace injury was not reported promptly.

·       There is insufficient medical evidence to support the claim.

·       Your injury occurred off the clock or outside of work. In general, workers’ compensation covers injuries that occur at work. Injuries that occur while commuting to work or while clocked out for a break are usually not covered by workers’ compensation insurance.

·       The injury occurred because you engaged in horseplay, roughhousing, practical jokes, or other intentional misconduct.

·       You were hurt while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

·       You failed to seek medical treatment. If you did not seek treatment after the accident, your employer or their insurance carrier may question the legitimacy or severity of your injury.

·       Your workers’ compensation claim was incomplete, unsupported by evidence, or filed late.

Across the country, workers’ compensation claims require an intricate knowledge of the law, detailed supporting evidence, and a commitment to meeting all deadlines. Let the Lento Law Group develop a comprehensive strategy on your behalf and advocate for you through your workers’ compensation claim process.

When Can an Employee Injured in a Workplace Accident File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

The current workers’ compensation system was developed to protect both employees and employers. State-based workers’ compensation regimes require employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance and eliminate the ability of most injured employees to sue their employers for personal injuries. This system allows injured workers to receive needed compensation without the need for lengthy lawsuits.

Although the workers’ compensation system generally prohibits employees from suing their employers for workplace injuries. In limited cases, workers can file a personal injury lawsuit against their employer or a third party.

You may be able to sue your employer for a workplace injury when:

·       Your employer failed to carry workers’ compensation insurance.

·       Your employer intentionally caused your injury.

·       Your employer’s action demonstrated extreme negligence not covered by their workers’ compensation insurance.

·       Your employer violated the safety regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or other safety agencies.

·       Your injury was caused by exposure to toxic substances. If your illness or injury has been caused by long-term exposure to hazardous substances, there may be an opportunity to file a toxic tort lawsuit.

If your injury was caused by a third party, such as a contractor or subcontractor, you may file a personal injury lawsuit against the party responsible. Similarly, if your injury was caused by faulty equipment, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the equipment manufacturer.

The Lento Law Group can review the details of the accident and your injuries to help prepare your workers’ compensation claim, appeal a denial, negotiate with the insurance carrier on your behalf, and identify other available avenues through which you can seek justice from the individuals and companies responsible for your workplace accident.

How Can the Lento Law Group Help?

Recovery from an injury takes time and determination. Workers’ compensation laws are complex and vary by state. It can be overwhelming to try to navigate the workers’ compensation system while you are injured. Let the Lento Law Group oversee your claim so that you can focus on healing.

The experienced team at the Lento Law Group can help develop a comprehensive workers’ compensation strategy for you based on your injuries and applicable state law. Our attorneys may:

·       Identify reporting and filing deadlines and statutes of limitations that may impact your eligibility for workers’ compensation.

·       Perform an independent investigation, if needed, to identify evidence and witnesses to support your claim or to determine if a third party’s negligence contributed to your injury.

·       Retain and consult with expert witnesses to provide specialized knowledge on complex aspects of the case.

·       Ensure your employer and their insurance carrier are processing your case properly.

·       Communicate with the workers’ compensation insurance carrier and negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf.

·       File an appeal with the appropriate commission on workers’ compensation or related agency if your employer or their insurance carrier fails to resolve your case properly.

·       Prepare for and represent you during any workers’ compensation hearing, mediation, alternative dispute resolution process, or related proceeding.

·       Pursue any other available legal avenues to help you receive the compensation and justice you deserve.

With the Lento Law Group on your side, we can fight for the workers’ compensation you deserve while you focus on your health, healing, and future.

Let the Lento Law Group Fight for the Justice and Compensation You Deserve

If you’ve been injured at work, contact the Lento Law Group to discuss your case. Let our licensed attorneys, located in law offices across the nation, fight for you and your future. Our legal team can help you get the justice and compensation you deserve after a workplace injury. Contact the Lento Law Group at 833-536-8652 and request a confidential consultation.