If you’ve ever been injured at work, you know the importance of workers’ compensation. An injury could result in expensive medical bills and even prevent you from working until you recover. Medical expenses and lost hours on the job resulting from something that your employer should have prevented is unfair and qualifies you for benefits.
Sometimes, however, your employer will deny your claim. Their bottom line is threatened if they have to pay you extra, so they have the motivation to deny you. If this happens, you might have to bring the case to court. Battling your employer and insurer in court can be a stressful enough experience — not even considering the highly trained team of lawyers they’ll have.
Discover the complexities of workers’ compensation cases, and how a knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorney can help you get the benefits you need and deserve.
When it Becomes a Problem
Getting any kind of injury is a problem, but the legal issues begin the moment your employer denies your claim. If you want your benefits, you’ll have to prove your case in court, and gathering the necessary evidence can be difficult. You deserve every last cent to cover your expenses and wage losses despite the many ways your employer might try to short you. Your employer could try to retaliate against you by slashing your wages or cutting your hours.
Know that these actions are wrong and that a knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorney can help you fight against wrongful treatment and receive your deserved benefits.
What to Expect from a Workers’ Comp Attorney
Top priority in all these cases is to get you the money you’re owed. Medical evidence is essential to your case to prove the extent of your injuries. Without a proper workers’ comp lawyer, you may be evaluated by a physician paid off by the insurance company. These physicians have an incentive to minimize the cost of your injuries, so always discuss your case with a knowledgeable workers’ comp attorney beforehand.
With a legal system tilted in favor of employers and insurers regarding workers’ comp, you need a workers’ comp attorney to tilt the scales back in your favor. Insurers have a team of lawyers who make their living on winning these cases, making it imperative that you seek legal counsel.
Taxation & Workers’ Comp
If you won the case and earned your compensation, you might be wondering what taxes you have to pay on your workers’ comp benefits. For the most part, you won’t have to pay any taxes at all.
However, if you’re also receiving Social Security disability benefits at the time of the accident, this could result in a reduction in the amount of Social Security benefits you receive.
The amount you receive from Social Security is dependent on your monthly earnings. If you start getting increased earnings from your workers’ comp payout, your monthly earnings could increase past a certain limit, thus reducing your benefits. The way to combat this is to spread your workers’ comp earnings out over longer periods of time so your monthly earnings don’t surpass that threshold. This can be pretty complicated, so it’s always best to discuss your options with an experienced workers’ comp attorney.
Finding a Workers’ Comp Attorney in Odessa
Your employer and insurer have highly trained lawyers working for them, so why shouldn’t you? Braker White has been providing services to injured individuals in Odessa for years, and we’re happy to help you, too. Contact Braker White online or at (432) 279-1420 for your free consultation today!
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