When you get injured at work, you should be able to file a workers compensation claim to get all costs linked to your injury covered. Ideally, you report your injury to your employer, they tell their insurance and file a claim, and you receive compensation that keeps you on your feet until you can get back to work. Unfortunately, not all workers comp claims go so smoothly. You may run into many obstacles along the way that you didn’t even know could occur. When that happens, it may be time to hire an attorney. Here’s three signs you need to get in touch with one.
1. Your Employer Doesn’t Have Workers Comp Insurance
The biggest hurdle you may discover right after you’ve been hurt: Your employer doesn’t have workers comp insurance. This might be hard to believe, but it’s entirely possible. Many businesses aren’t legally required to purchase insurance in their state, and some may cut costs by skipping over it. If you’ve been injured and your company doesn’t have workers comp, contact an attorney to discuss your options. You may be able to bring a lawsuit with a workers compensation attorney Salem Oregon to get the coverage you need.
2. Your Employer Doesn’t Report Your Injury to Insurance
Sometimes the integrity of your employer comes into question when they simply don’t acknowledge your injury. They are the ones who have to start the claims process, and if they don’t report your injury to insurance, you may not be able to make a claim. There are many reasons an employer pretends an injury didn’t happen, the most likely being that they don’t have workers comp insurance in a state that legally requires it. In this situation, not only should you seek legal help, but you may want to consider new employment once you’ve reached a settlement.
3. Your Injury Happened Off-Premises
If you were running errands or out of the office when your injury occurred, you may not know if you can file for workers compensation. Your employer or insurance may try to take advantage of your uncertainty by refusing to make a claim or offer a settlement. However, you are legally entitled to compensation as long as what you were doing at the time of the injury was for work or your employer’s gain. It does not matter if you were away from the usual work space. An attorney can help gather evidence that you were working during your injury, getting you one step closer to compensation.