When an employee is injured on the job and files for workers compensation, the process is usually straightforward. The employer and the insurer paying this form of benefit cooperate, and the employee begins receiving payments promptly. Sometimes, however, the employer or the insurance company questions the validity of the claim. A Workers Compensation Lawyer in Columbus IN can provide legal representation if the delay lasts a long time or the claim winds up being denied.
State Requirements
The State of Indiana requires most businesses, but not all of them, to carry workers compensation insurance that protects employees financially in case of an accident, illness or injury caused by repetitive strain. The usual payments cover temporary disability for wages as well as all related medical expenses.
Workers comp is not only supposed to pay for the medical expenses up until the employee returns to work, but for any permanent disability. Sometimes a delay in payments cannot be avoided because a certain level of permanent disability is expected. The patient must wait until he or she reaches maximum medical improvement, as determined by one or more doctors. At that point, a law firm such as Alcorn Sage Schwartz & Magrath LLP can help negotiate a settlement with the benefits provider.
Learning About the Program
This individual may want to do some reading about the state laws regarding workers comp in Indiana. A Workers Compensation Lawyer in Columbus IN also will answer any questions this person has once they begin working together. Typically, these lawyers do not require payment until the case is resolved. They know that injured men and women may be facing financial problems since they cannot work.
When Employment Is Terminated
An employee who expects to return to work feels blindsided if he or she is fired by the employer. The employer is not legally allowed to fire a worker for filing a claim after an injury on the job, but there may be other valid reasons for the termination. If this happens, the individual will want to seek legal advice. To see a website of a legal organization representing clients in workers compensation cases, click here.
