If you have sustained an injury at your workplace, you may be entitled to receive workers’ compensation.
Unfortunately, not all employers and their insurance companies work towards the welfare of the employees and may deny legitimate claims, leaving the employees to follow the complex and difficult process of appeals.
Appealing a Workers’ Compensation Denial
After repeated denials, many employees will give up and lose the benefits they are entitled to. Others may try to negotiate the case and the appeals themselves. In such a circumstance, it is always better to retain a Kansas City Missouri workers’ compensation attorney to successfully settle your claim. The attorney will communicate with the employer’s insurance company on your behalf, gather medical evidence to support your claim, negotiate with the insurance company for a good settlement, and represent you at the workers’ compensation hearing.
Gathering Medical and Vocational Evidence
The most important aspect of workers’ compensation claim is the medical evidence which supports the claim for a work-related injury. An experienced lawyer will gather the medical evidence and process it properly for presentation. The lawyer may also recommend visits to certain specialists for treatments specific to your case, obtain opinions of medical specialists, and also arrange for medical experts to testify in your case.
Vocational evidence is another factor which helps build up the case. The lawyer may arrange for vocational experts to provide information about your job’s physical requirements, statements from friends and family about your lifestyle and other activities, and evidence regarding the negligence of workplace safety norms. The following factors may determine the strength and value of a case:
- The extent of injuries sustained by you and the functional restrictions resulting out of it.
- The disability rating with respect to the reduced functioning.
- Whether the incurred disability is partial or total.
- Whether the disability is temporary or life-long (permanent).
- The expenses incurred for medical treatment and the cost of future medical treatment.
- The wages prior to sustaining the injury.
A Kansas City Missouri workers’ compensation lawyer will work to safeguard your interests in the case. If you are applying for benefits under Social Security Benefits, the lawyer will structure your claim in such a manner that you are not at any loss when the workers’ compensation offset is applied. The lawyer will also advise you on third-party claims, such as a personal injury claim against a party that led to your injury, and other benefits that may arise out of your case.