Workers Compensation Lawyer Wytheville, VA

If you were hurt at work, you might be wondering if you qualify for workers compensation benefits. Perhaps you asked at work, but received conflicting information or do not feel confident about the answers you received. At The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt, we have helped many injured workers in Wytheville, Virginia receive the benefits they deserve. If you sustained a serious injury at work, you may benefit from working with a knowledgeable workers compensation lawyer. Call us to request a free consultation.

Which Injuries Qualify for Workers’ Compensation Benefits?

If you have been injured while at work, you likely have questions about whether or not you can obtain any compensation related to those injuries. After most kinds of accidents, injury victims can work with an attorney to explore the option of filing a personal injury suit. However, workers are generally confined to pursuing compensation through their state workers’ compensation insurance coverage system. As a result, there are numerous administrative tasks workers and their attorneys must pursue before compensation can be received. It is therefore important for injured workers to consult with an experienced Wytheville, VA workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as they have sustained injury. Speaking with a lawyer quickly can help workers to preserve their legal options and begin the process of obtaining their benefits payments as soon as possible.

The Ins and Outs of Workers’ Compensation Coverage

Workers’ compensation is structured as a no-fault system. Practically speaking, this means that it usually doesn’t matter how an injury occurs – workers are entitled to benefits regardless. However, there are exceptions to this general rule. An experienced Wytheville, VA workers’ compensation lawyer can help you to understand whether an exception may apply in your case. If no exception applies, you will likely be entitled to compensation for your injury regardless of how it occurred, as long as it occurred while you were at work.

There are usually only four major requirements that a worker must meet before an experienced Wytheville, VA workers’ compensation lawyer can help that individual file a claim for benefits. The injured worker must be an employee (not an independent contractor, volunteer, etc.) of an employer required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. The injury must have occurred at work and the claim must be made within a certain period of time following the injury occurrence. Again, there are exceptions to these general rules, so please contact an experienced Wytheville, VA workers’ compensation lawyer even if you think one of these general rules may prohibit you from filing a successful claim.

Legal Assistance Is Available

If you have been injured on the job, please do not hesitate to contact an experienced Wytheville, Virginia workers’ compensation lawyer today. Chances are that you are entitled to benefits and working with the legal team at The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt can help to ensure that you obtain the full amount of compensation you are entitled to. Alternatively, if it turns out that you are not eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, our firm can help you to explore any legal alternatives that may be right for your situation. Please don’t hesitate; schedule a risk-free consultation with an experienced Wytheville, VA workers’ compensation lawyer today. Exploring your options does not commit you to any specific actions, but it will help to ensure that you can make an informed decision about your situation and that you have access to any legal guidance and support you may need at this time. We look forward to speaking with you.

Filing a Workers Compensation Claim

If you were injured at work, you may or may not have already filed a workers compensation claim to receive benefits. Being unsure of whether or not you might qualify for benefits, perhaps you have hesitated to file a claim. Understand that there is a deadline by which you must file a claim after sustaining an injury at work. If you file after that deadline, your claim will likely be denied. If your injury required or requires substantial medical treatment and you have not yet filed a claim, call our office and speak with one of our attorneys without delay.

Rejection of Workers Compensation Benefits

If you filed a workers compensation claim and received a denial on the basis of your injury, it might have been for one or more of the following reasons:

• Minor injury. If your injury is considered minor or inconsequential, the workers compensation insurance carrier (or your employer) may have rejected your claim. For example, if you sustained a paper cut, a minor bruise, or a cold because of the air conditioning, they may determine that it is not sufficient to qualify for benefits. As a general rule of thumb, if you do not need stitches, surgery, medications, and can work, then you do not qualify for benefits. There are always exceptions, so if you feel the denial was not justified, contact our law office and a workers compensation lawyer can review your circumstances.
• Pre-existing condition. If the insurance carrier or your employer determines that your injury was not caused at work, and that it’s an old injury, they will likely deny your benefits claim. Sometimes, a worker may indeed have a pre-existing condition, but their condition is aggravated at work which necessitates them to once again get medical attention though they may not have needed any in the recent past. In these scenarios, you may be deserving of partial benefits even though you received a denial. If this describes your situation, call a workers compensation lawyer at our office to see if we may be of assistance.
• Third-party responsibility. If your injury is directly attributable to a third-party rather than a coworker or your employer, then you might not qualify for workers compensation benefits. However, you may have grounds to file a personal injury claim against that third party. The laws surrounding this type of legal action can be complicated, particularly in instances involving workplace injuries. Call us to speak with a workers compensation lawyer in Wytheville, VA who can provide you guidance after a free consultation. If you are eligible to file a claim against the third party, we may be able to help you.

Protect Your Rights — Call The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt

If you were seriously hurt at work, you may be eligible for compensation even if your workers compensation claim was denied. Call us today to find out more or to schedule a free consultation with a workers compensation lawyer Wytheville, VA residents trust.

When Can You Sue Your Employer or Co-Worker for Workplace Incidents?

You go to work every day expecting a safe environment where you can do your job to the best of your ability. Of course, accidents can happen and unfortunate incidents can occur. There are a number of situations that could arise that may cause you bodily harm or illness. Worker’s compensation should cover most scenarios, but in rare cases, you may be able to go a step further and file a lawsuit.

The Purpose of Worker’s Compensation

Your employer should have workers’ compensation coverage to protect both you and the organization. With this insurance plan, employees who are injured while working can file a claim and not have financial responsibility for medical bills and treatments. The coverage should be valid unless the employee was disregarding rules, acting irresponsibly, failed to file a claim correctly or on time or failed to prove the accident wasn’t his or her own fault. Workers’ compensation protects the company from lawsuits.

When to Pursue Legal Action: No Coverage

If your company doesn’t have workers’ compensation or if it has insufficient coverage, and you’re injured or get sick due to workplace conditions, you should speak to a worker compensation lawyer in Wytheville, VA  right away. Under most circumstances, the workers’ compensation plan would pay for visits to the doctor’s office or for medical care. However, you can file a lawsuit against your employer if there is no such coverage or if the plan isn’t extensive enough. With an experienced worker compensation lawyer at your side, you should be able to recover damages and get payment for out-of-pocket costs.

When to Pursue Legal Action: Your Accident or Injury was Intentional

There is a fine line between someone intentionally hurting you or getting you sick and someone inflicting harm through negligence. If your employer didn’t put the right safeguards in place at work or if your company was simply careless about creating a safe environment, you’ll have a difficult time successfully suing the organization. The intent has to be clear-cut for you to win your lawsuit. For instance, if your manager deliberately hurts you or if a co-worker willfully injects you with something to get you sick, you should be able to sue.

Ask the Experts

If you’re still not sure whether you can or should sue following a workplace-related injury or illness, you should consult an experienced Wytheville, VA  worker compensation lawyer today. You shouldn’t use guesswork or not pursue a case because you don’t know how to proceed.

Get the protection you deserve. When you’re injured or fall victim to an illness at work, talk to a worker compensation lawyer Wytheville, VA clients recommend from the Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt. Call our office for a free and confidential consultation. 

Client Review

“Words can’t begin to explain how appreciative I am for the services that the Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt provided. I live out of state, so I was concerned about being present for a ticket I got for reckless driving. But, after speaking with Brooke about it, I felt relieved and confident that it would be taken care of in the most professional way possible and I was 100% right! Thank you so much for your kindness and professionalism in which you handled my case.”
Shana Graham