You have been hurt on the job. You have a good relationship with your employer, and they say they will take care of you. You love your job. You trust them to honor their word. Why should you hire an attorney? What if you get fired after hiring an attorney? These are among the most commons questions we see daily at SLF, and literally every time, the best thing is to protect you and your family after being hurt.
With 25 years of experience dealing with this very scenario, Maggie has all too often seen employer relationships go south quickly. Perhaps the employer pays one Urgent Care bill, but then when it gets serious and you need an MRI or surgery…the employer can no longer “afford” your care. Now you delayed reporting your injury to the insurance company, which can be a big problem, and your claim may even be denied. Remember, when money and job productivity are at risk for an employer, they may not be so eager to take care of you. If an employer truly wants to help, they will report your claim to workers’ compensation timely and not try to hide the injury and sweep it under the rug so their premiums will not go up!
Your employer is not in the driver’s seat when it comes to your claim. While they may be your boss, they are not the boss of your claim. Your employer is required by law to carry workers’ compensation insurance if they have 3 or more employees in N.C. After you are injured on the job, the insurance company is the one directing your care, handling your weekly benefits, and ultimately settling your claim. Your employer is responsible for reporting your injury to the insurance company in a timely manner, or it may harm you down the road.
The reality is, insurance companies also want to see your claim CLOSED as quickly and cheaply as possible, even at your expense. Insurance companies are in the business of making profit, not caring for injured workers! If you want to protect your rights and be sure you can take care of your family, consult with an attorney who will protect YOUR rights and treat you with respect along the way.
Workers’ Compensation claims are unique, complicated, and tedious. At every step of the way there is an opportunity to miss a deadline, not file the right form, or say the wrong thing that causes insurance to inaccurately deny your case or force you back to work too soon.
There is good news. An attorney can advise and advocate for you so that you are justly compensated. What feels scary and unknown can become a simple process when an experienced attorney is advocating for you. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with Attorney/Owner, Maggie Shankle. At Shankle Law Firm, we can help educate you on your rights, as well as other components surrounding your injury and treatment.