The workers’ compensation system is designed to help workers, who have suffered injuries at the job. Ideally, if someone was injured at the workplace due to a work-related activity, they should be able to get the workers’ compensation benefits easily. However, insurance companies are not in the business of helping people. Eventually, they want to reduce their financial burden, and therefore, claims are often denied for petty reasons. In Virginia, all employers are required to have workers’ compensation insurance, and in return, they also have an immunity that an injured worker cannot sue them directly. If you have a claim, it is best to talk to one of the Fairfax workers’ compensation lawyers to know your rights and get the compensation that you deserve. 

What does a workers’ compensation attorney do?

The role of a workers’ compensation attorney is to advise clients on all relevant aspects related to their claim. They can help you file the claim, but before anything else, they will help in proving that the injuries sustained by their client are related to an on-job injury. The lawyer can also communicate with workers’ comp insurer on behalf of the client, and whatever medical and other evidence is needed to support the claim, they will arrange all that too. Most people hire workers’ compensation attorneys because they want a fair settlement, not something that the insurance company offers in the first instance. In some cases, if the claim is denied, the attorney will take care of appeal too. 

Negotiating with insurance company 

Keep in mind that these big insurance companies have the best of lawyers on their side, and they will typically make an offer that’s profitable to them. These are for-profit businesses, and therefore, you cannot expect them to be empathetic. An experienced and skilled workers’ compensation attorney knows what it takes to negotiate. While chances are high that the settlement would be out of court, but if there is a need to drag the insurance company to court, workers’ compensation attorneys do not step back. 

If you are working with an attorney for the first time, make sure that they are experienced and dedicate a considerable part of their practice to this. Not all attorneys work on a contingency basis, which is why it is also wise to discuss the costs. Find a reliable workers’ compensation attorney in Virginia, who is accessible and offers the first consultation for free. 

Edward Bertrand