February 1st marks National Freedom Day, a celebration that has its roots in President Lincoln’s presidency. On this day in 1865, President Lincoln signed a resolution that outlawed slavery. This resolution would later become the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
Today, people honor the day with festivals and ceremonies celebrating the freedoms that all Americans enjoy. Though the U.S. justice system is not perfect, it has come a long way in ensuring basic liberties to all Americans, regardless of gender, race, economic background, or other considerations.
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One of the many freedoms that we enjoy is the ability to file for workers’ compensation benefits in the aftermath of a job accident. These benefits include medical treatment, compensation for time off of work while you heal, and payment for permanent disability that developed as a result of your accident. In addition, if you are no longer able to work in your former capacity because of your injury, you should receive retraining to allow you to return to a new job.
Unfortunately, the system does not always work in favor of the employee. When you file a claim, you go up against your employer’s insurance company, which is well-versed in finding ways not to compensate you after being hurt at work. As a result, you may find yourself in a situation where you are not getting fair treatment or adequate pay. In these cases, another freedom that we enjoy in America is the freedom to hire an attorney to help you navigate the system. Just as the insurance behemoths are experts at finding ways to deny payment, workers’ compensation lawyers are highly skilled at making your case and binding insurance companies to pay up.
Many people reason that they do not want to spend money on attorneys’ fees. However, this argument can often backfire. They may go up against their company only to find that they do not have a good understanding of state and federal laws relevant to their case. (The laws can be very confusing and change frequently.) They may also find that they are not familiar with court procedures and with which information to present in order to ensure a successful outcome. Their employer may play “hardball” and use unfair tactics to guarantee a win. A workers’ compensation lawyer will have the tools to defend you. They will be familiar with the ins and outs of the law and how to present your case in order to get you proper payment and medical treatment.
If you are mired in a workers’ compensation dispute, exercise your freedom to hire the best lawyers to get you the help that you deserve.