Handling Your Own Workers’ Compensation Case, Is it too Late to Get an Attorney
You were hurt in an accident on the job. Your employer may have threatened you or tried to keep you from filing a workers’ compensation claim. Or, a workers’ compensation claim may have been filed, but your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company denied the claim.
You were not trying to fake a work-related injury or scam an insurance company, you were genuinely hurt in an accident while you were working for your employer on the job. You may or may not have been able to return to work. You may have been fired by your employer, or you may have gotten a job with another employer.
The point is you were genuinely hurt in an accident on the job. You want to receive the workers’ compensation benefits that you were entitled to.
Handling your own case
For one reason or another, you did not hire a workers’ compensation attorney. You have been handling your own workers’ compensation case. In fact, you have been handling your own workers’ compensation case for 2 years, and you have not been able to get anywhere with your employer’s insurance company.
The thing you would like to know is, “Have I waited too long? Is it too late to hire a workers’ compensation attorney?”
Although statute of limitations vary from state to state, if you have met all of the notice requirements, it is not too late to get a workers’ compensation attorney. There is something that you should understand, however.
Better to have a workers’ compensation attorney
By handling your own case, the chances are that you have damaged your case for being hurt in an accident on the job. You will probably receive far less than you would have received had you hired a workers’ compensation attorney from the beginning of your case. When you have a workers’ compensation attorney on your side, you usually are paid more and are paid faster than if you do not have an attorney.
Here is something for you to consider. Would you pay anything if you were an insurance company without facing legal action? The only way an insurance company can show a profit is by taking in more than they pay out. It is in the best interest of the insurance company to pay you as little as they can get by with. An insurance adjustor may seem to be friendly and really care about you, but the bottom line is that an insurance company cares about its own interests, first and foremost.
If you have been handling your own workers’ compensation case for 2 years and have gotten nowhere with your employer‘s insurance company, this may paint a pretty dark picture. However, it is probably not too late to acquire the services of a workers’ compensation attorney.
You may still get benefits
After all, you have not been able to get anywhere with the insurance company in 2 years. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney should be able to do a lot better than that with your employer‘s insurance company. A workers’ compensation attorney may still be able to get you the workers’ compensation benefits that you deserve for being hurt in an accident on the job.
Most workers’ compensation attorneys work on a contingency basis. This means there is no attorney fee unless your case is won.
Related articles
- Statute of Limitations on Workers’ Compensation Claim in Illinois (usworkerscomp.com)
- Changing Employers and Getting Workers’ Compensation (usworkerscomp.com)
- What if I Want to See Another Doctor (usworkerscomp.com)










