Portland Work Accident Lawyer
Do You Need a Portland Work Accident Lawyer?
You have rights under Oregon’s workers’ compensation laws if you have been injured on the job in Portland. However, you need an experienced work accident lawyer to help you maximize the benefits you can recover.
Workers’ compensation insurance provides eligible employees with benefits that pay for their necessary medical care, offset part of the income they lose while recovering, and compensate them for any related long-term disabilities.
Unfortunately, the Oregon workers’ compensation system is not as easy to navigate as it should be. Without an experienced guide, you might face delays, denials, or disputed benefits. Save yourself the disappointments and frustrations by getting help from our experienced Portland work accident lawyer right away.
Find out what Jodie Anne Phillips Polich, P.C., can do for you when you contact us for a free consultation.
Why Choose Jodie Anne Phillips Polich, P.C.?
In the aftermath of a workplace injury, your focus should be on healing, not dealing with confusing bureaucracy. That is where a work accident lawyer at Jodie Anne Phillips Polich, P.C., can help you.
Whether you are just getting started with your workers’ comp claim, appealing a denial of benefits, or negotiating a settlement at the end of the process, you deserve to have a Portland workplace injury lawyer who cares as much about the outcome as you do.
Turn to us for help because of our:
- Extensive experience – Jodie Anne Phillips Polich has been helping injured workers since 1993. She has successfully resolved a wide range of cases and recovered meaningful compensation for people in situations like yours.
- Inside perspective – Jodie previously served on the Oregon Workers’ Compensation Board, weighing in on countless cases involving workplace injuries. She knows how the board may consider your claim and can anticipate problems before they arise.
- Reputation among our peers – The successes Jodie has achieved for her clients have earned her recognition by Best Lawyers, the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and Avvo, where she maintains a 10.0 Superb rating. Other attorneys respect her experience and often refer their workers’ comp cases to her.
While we appreciate our reputation among the legal community, what really matters to us is our clients. Here is what one of our past clients had to say about the work we did for them:
“Jodie, thank you so much for being there for me, you truly are an angel. There is no way I could have gone through that hearing by myself. I can’t thank you enough for helping me and my family.” – Rory L.
When Should You Contact a Lawyer After a Work Accident?
You should contact our workplace injury attorney as soon after a work accident as possible. Jodie Anne Phillips Polich, P.C., can step in immediately to begin protecting your rights to compensation, including by helping you file the mandatory Form 801 with your employer. We can also explain your rights and options, as well as other obligations you may have under the law.
How Can a Portland Work Accident Lawyer Help?
Jodie Anne Phillips Polich, P.C., can help with all aspects of your workers’ compensation claim, including:
- Filing your initial claim with your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company
- Appealing a denial to the Hearings Division of the Workers’ Compensation Board
- Advocating for an adjustment of your benefits if they are too low
- Negotiating a lump-sum settlement at the end of your claim
- Representing you during hearings so you don’t have to go through them alone
The workers’ compensation system can be confusing, even downright frightening. Fortunately, you do not have to navigate it on your own. Let us guide you through the process and make it as stress-free for you as possible.
What Benefits May Be Available After a Work Accident?
Oregon state law requires most employers who have at least one full- or part-time employee to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ comp insurance covers employees who get hurt on the job regardless of who was at fault for the work accident, except in instances of intoxication, horseplay, or deliberate injury.
Oregon’s workers’ compensation system provides the following benefits:
- Medical care – Workers’ compensation pays for all reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to the on-the-job accident. Medical benefits can include doctor visits, hospital care, surgeries, prescriptions, physical therapy, medical equipment, and travel expenses necessitated by eligible medical appointments.
- Partial wage replacement – When an employee cannot work because of their injury, they may qualify for temporary disability benefits. Wage-replacement payments replace up to two-thirds of the worker’s average pre-injury gross weekly wage, subject to a state maximum.
- Permanent disability – If the worker’s injury results in permanent impairment, workers’ compensation can provide disability benefits based on the severity and extent of the impairment.
- Vocational assistance – Should injury-related impairment prevent the worker from returning to their previous job, the worker may qualify for vocational retraining assistance. The benefits provide job-placement services, training, or other support to help the worker find employment suitable for the impairment.
- Death benefits – If a worker dies as a result of a work-related injury or illness, eligible surviving family members may receive death benefits, including financial support and reimbursement for funeral and burial expenses.
What Types of Accidents and Injuries Can Lead to a Claim?
Workers’ compensation covers practically any accident or injury that happens to an employee at work or while they are performing work-related duties, such as:
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Overexertion injuries
- Construction accidents
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Machinery and equipment failures
- Falling objects
- Struck-by incidents
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Burns and electrical injuries
- Exposure to toxic chemicals and other toxic substances
Can You File a Third-Party Claim After a Workplace Accident?
In most cases, workers’ compensation is the exclusive remedy against the employer for employees who get injured at work. Employers get protection from lawsuits in exchange for providing their employees with workers’ compensation benefits. In other words, you generally can’t sue your employer for a workplace injury, even if they were to blame for what happened. The protection also extends to your fellow employees.
However, if a third party outside your employment relationship was to blame for your injuries – for example, a subcontractor who drops a tool on you or a motorist who causes a car accident while you’re driving for work – you could have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit against them. Jodie Anne Phillips Polich, P.C., can review your unique situation and advise you on all your options for seeking compensation after a workplace accident.
Contact a Portland Work Accident Lawyer
If you’ve been injured at work in Portland, you need the guidance and support of an experienced attorney from our law firm. Contact Jodie Anne Phillips Polich, P.C., today for your free consultation with a Portland workplace accident lawyer.