When Your Workers’ Compensation Claim Has High Value, You Need to Call an Experienced Our Workers’ Comp Lawyers in NYC
Under New York law, workers’ compensation allows for up to two-thirds (2/3s) of lost wages, medical bill reimbursement, and certain other benefits for permanent disability, retraining, or wrongful death. This means that all approved workers’ compensation claims have value, even for minor claims with limited lost wages and medical bills. For these types of more basic claims, it is fine to handle the claim alone—such as those for a twisted ankle, temporary backache, or other related injury. However, sometimes a workers’ compensation claim has high value due to the severity of the injuries, significance of the lost wages, and other losses sustained by a worker. These types of high-value claims could be handled alone, but really should be handled by an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer in NYC given the significant ramifications.
Here at O’Connor Law, we take pride in protecting the rights of injured workers and their families no matter what type of claim they have. But when a workers’ compensation claim has high value, we are one of the premier workers’ compensation law firms who are capable of handling catastrophic injury cases and complicated WC claims. If you or a loved one have suffered serious or catastrophic injury, learn how our compassionate and experienced workers’ compensation lawyers in NYC can help you by dialing (844) 692-6671 to schedule a FREE consultation with our office.
Signs Your Workers’ Comp Claim Has High Value (And You Should Get a Workers’ Comp Lawyer Like Us)
Although there are no requirements under New York workers’ compensation law to hire a WC lawyer, there are certain types of claims that you really should obtain legal counsel for. These are the high value claims that really need a well-trained lawyer to ensure that you obtain the full compensation that you may be entitled to under the law.
Some of the biggest signs that your WC claim is a high value case that you should seek help a WC lawyer’s help for include the following:
1) Your Injury Was Severe, Catastrophic, or Permanently Disabling
If you sustained a workplace injury or illness that is severe, catastrophic, or permanently disabling, you should seek the help of an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer before trying to handle the claim alone. These cases are often high value because of the severity of the damage both now and in the future. There are complicated calculations for schedule loss of use or non-schedule loss of use claims that can make the entire process more difficult.
In addition, since there are severe, catastrophic, or permanently disabling injuries, the medicine is also very complicated and often requires the help of an experienced lawyer who knows anatomy, medicine, and is comfortable with medical terms or diagnoses.
Some examples of very severe or catastrophic injuries include the following:
- Blindness
- Brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Joint replacements
- Spinal fusions
- Amputations or loss of a limb
- Paralysis cases like paraplegia or quadriplegia
- Permanent organ injury
- Cancer cases
- Any case with a permanent restriction or limitation
- Any injuries where you are unable to return to the same line of work, and
- Any other massive or extensive injury, and
- Personal injury losses that are catastrophic and devastating.
2) Extensive Time Away From Work
If you suffered a workplace injury or illness that has you losing a significant amount of time from work, you may have a very high value WC claim. This is particularly true if doctors are estimating you will have many more days away from work or have restrictions from being able to work for many more months in the future.
Generally speaking, any injury or illness that has you losing extensive time away from work is significant and should be handled by a lawyer.
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3) High Medical Bills
If you have high medical bills, you probably also have a high value case. Although workers’ compensation will pay for your medical bills upfront, you will still see the value of these medical bills and claims. If your medical bills are very high and start to creep above $20,000 or more—especially if you are over $100,000—you may have a very high value workers’ compensation claim that deserves to be handled by an experienced workers’ comp lawyer like us.
4) You Have Permanent Disability
Anytime you have a permanent disability from a workplace accident or injury, you may be entitled to a schedule loss of use or non-schedule loss of use calculation. This calculation is meant to compensate you for the permanent disability you may have from your injuries. Depending on the location of the injury and the extent of the loss, this claim can be very high value.
But it can also be an area where the Workers’ Compensation Board or an adjuster could try to minimize your claim, including arguing that your injuries were pre-existing, are not as severe as you claim, or are otherwise not permanent. Therefore, whenever you have a permanent disability, you should always call an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer for help with your WC claim.
5) You Need to Change Your Career or Must Retire
When a workplace injury or illness forces you to change your career or forces you to retire, you have a high value WC claim. Even if you need to take fewer hours or work in a different job title at your current employer, you may likely have a high value claim. If you or a loved one had to switch careers or retire after a workplace accident or illness, call an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer in NYC like hours for help.
If You Have a High Value WC Claim in New York, Call Our Law Firm For Help
Even though there is no requirement to have a workers’ compensation lawyer to help you handle a claim, when your workers’ compensation claim has high value you need to call an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer in NYC like ours at O’Connor Law to protect your rights. Learn more about how we can help you by calling to schedule your FREE case evaluation by dialing (844) 692-6671 or by sending us a private message through our “Contact Us” box available here.
