Most of us spend many hours at work, and a substantial number of employees work in hazardous industries. The Workers' Compensation system was designed to ensure that people who suffer significant work-related injuries are compensated for the cost of medical treatment and receive replacement wages if their injury forces them to take time off from work. Other parts of the system address cases in which a worker suffered a permanent disability, and provide some compensation to survivors of workers who were killed at work or in the course of job-related duties.

Workers' compensation laws specify a limited period of time during which injured workers must submit a workers' compensation claim following an injury or the discovery that they suffer from a work-related illness. While delayed claims might be allowed in some limited circumstances, they raise the risk that the claimant will receive no compensation. Thus, if you have suffered a work-related harm and are considering discussing your case with an attorney prior to filing a workers' compensation claim, you should do so as soon as possible after your injury occurs.

In some cases, aggressive insurance companies may deny legitimate workers' compensation claims. If an insurer claims that you were not actually injured, that the injury is not severe enough to qualify you for workers' compensation benefits, or that the injury you suffered is unrelated to your job, you may face the loss of important benefits: coverage for medical care, financial help, and vocational (or retraining) help.

If you have suffered a work-related injury and you would like to discuss your workers' compensation rights fully, or if you feel that you have been unfairly denied benefits that you legitimately qualify for, we would appreciate the opportunity to evaluate your situation during a free consultation. Our experienced workers' compensation attorneys may be able to assist you through the various stages on the appeals process and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.