Following a workplace injury or any kind of injury that prevents someone from working, the biggest blow will no doubt be to the victim’s pride. It is this pride, and often a bit of misinformation, that leads many people to give up on asking for the benefits which they may actually be entitled to.
What the Law Says
Many will admit that there is a certain stigma attached to people who ask for benefits or government assistance. However, the law is very clear as to what types of injuries can be compensated. Essentially, so long as certain circumstances are present and so long as the victim can prove certain facts, then that victim is entitled to receive compensation from either the Social Security Administration (SSA) for injuries that prevent the person from working, and/or compensation from the Worker’s Compensation system, which compensates for injuries sustained while on the job.
What Attorneys are Saying
No matter the circumstances regarding an injury that either prevents someone from working or that was sustained on the job, experienced benefits attorneys agree that individuals should never give up on a claim before speaking with legal counsel. Even if an attorney advises that the person may not have a valid claim, it is better to hear this kind of advice from an actual attorney than to assume and wonder about the validity of a case.
Attorneys practicing in the area of benefits law, specifically Social Security Disability (SSD) law and worker’s compensation law, have the knowledge, training, and experience necessary to advise individuals on their claims and, if an attorney believes that a valid claim exists, to represent the injured victim through the application and, if necessary, the appeals process.
Even if a Claim is Denied
Both the Social Security Administration and the Worker’s Compensation System have built in appeals processes. This means that even if a person’s claim for benefits has been denied, an attorney may still be able to help. One primary reason for why a claim is denied is simply because the application for benefits was improperly or incompletely submitted. Attorneys with experience helping clients get the benefits that they’re entitled to know very well what the Social Security Administration and Worker’s Compensation system are looking for in applications, and can help ensure that an applicant’s paperwork is filled out properly and that an application contains all of the evidence that application reviewers might be looking for.
The Bottom Line
Even if they think that they may not qualify for benefits, and even if they may have been told by non-legal professionals that they don’t have a case, injury victims should always seek the advice of benefits attorneys before deciding not to pursue benefits. Benefits attorneys are true legal professionals with their fingers on the pulse of the benefit system and are in the best position to evaluate a claim and offer sound legal advice. In most cases, a brief consultation with an attorney will reveal whether or not a valid claim exists and, if so, what the injured victim should do to secure the benefits owed.