When to Hire a Workers’ Comp Lawyer in Portland

If you’ve been hurt in a workplace accident, it is normal to have questions about your rights as an injured worker. How will I pay my medical bills? How will I pay my bills if I can’t work? When should I contact a lawyer?

Portland workers’ compensation attorney Jodie Anne Phillips Polich can answer your questions about when to hire a workers’ comp lawyer and how your attorney can help you pursue the benefits you need and deserve.

Who Is Liable for My Workplace Injury?

Filing a workers’ compensation claim could help you secure wage-loss benefits and compensation for medical bills. This compensation will be paid regardless of who is at fault for the accident. This means that even if you were hurt in a workplace accident that was your fault, you could still be eligible for worker’s compensation. Benefits will be paid regardless of fault.

Even if you file a workers’ comp claim, you could still be eligible to bring a third-party liability claim if your injury was caused by someone other than your employer or a co-worker. In this instance, you may be able to recover compensation that you couldn’t recover in a workers’ comp claim, such as damages for pain and suffering and punitive damages.

When Should I Contact a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?

As a general rule, it is a good idea to hire a workers’ compensation attorney to represent you any time you’ve been seriously injured in a workplace accident. A lawyer can protect your rights and your injury claim and will help guide you through the process of filing for and receiving benefits.

Other circumstances in which an experienced lawyer could be essential include when:

• Your workers’ comp claim was denied.
• Your permanent disability rating is questioned.
• The insurance company is preventing you from getting medical care.
• A pre-existing condition complicates matters.
• Other government benefits are affected.
• The workers’ comp hearing is a trial.

How Can a Lawyer Help Me?

An attorney can guide you through the process of filing an initial workers’ comp claim, helping you thoroughly document the injury or illness you suffered, and managing the paperwork that comes along with the claim.

Sometimes valid claims are denied on technicalities. A lawyer can review this denial and promptly put together a strong case for appeal. A lawyer can also review your benefits and advocate for adjustments if the benefits are less than the amount that you should be paid.

How Can a Worker’s Compensation Attorney in Portland Help With My Claim?

Portland workers’ comp attorney Jodie Anne Phillips Polich has been serving the needs of injured workers in Oregon for over 25 years. Jodie has built a reputation for the quality of her work. Her efforts in helping working Oregonians have been recognized by the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, which awarded her the Doug Swanson Outstanding Workers’ Compensation Attorney Award for her lobbying efforts that helped bring about legislation that benefited the interests of injured employees.

Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with experienced Portland workers’ compensation attorney Jodie Anne Phillips Polich today by calling us or contacting us online.