If you have been the victim of a work-related injury, waiting to receive compensation can be a difficult time. Even when a settlement has been offered, you may not know if it will be enough to cover you for loss of wages and medical bills, both for now and in the future.
With this in mind, many people who are offered a settlement figure consult with a lawyer before accepting. This allows you to gain a better knowledge of all of the benefits you are entitled to and ascertain whether or not the settlement figure is a true reflection of your entitlement.
If you choose to accept the amount offered, you will be provided with weekly checks over an agreed period of time. If however, you wish to dispute the offer, you have two options:
- negotiate a settlement with the insurance company, or
- go to a hearing or trial and have a judge rule on the dispute instead
In many cases, injured employees simply settle for the first amount offered as it is an immediate way of clawing back money owed and getting access to good medical care. But, before you agree to a settlement, you should understand the consequences. An experienced workers compensation lawyer will be able to advise you of these.
Some injuries will result in more permanent physical disabilities that will need attending to for many years to come. The cost of this additional cover should be considered in the settlement figure to avoid you paying for them yourself.
Agreeing to the first figure offered to you also carries some potential pitfalls that you may not have considered. For example:
- A lump sum payment may sound very tempting, but if you spend all in one go you could leave yourself open to further out of pocket expenses in the future that you will not be reimbursed for.
- If you foresee the need for further surgeries or medicine you should not give up your rights to payment for future medical treatment in return for a lump-sum payout. You may not be able to earn as well in the future and therefore not be able to afford your medical bills for ongoing treatment
- The size and nature of your settlement could, in some cases, reduce the types of other benefits that you may be entitled to in the future. Your worker’s compensation lawyer will be able to advise you more about these.
Also, keep in mind that you do not have to be completely disabled or unable to work at all in order to receive permanent disability benefits through workers’ compensation. If your injury directly affects your ability to work in the future, you can ask for compensation to cover the reduction in earning potential.
Ensuring that your settlement is sufficient to satisfy your future needs can be complicated and is a daunting task for anyone to take on alone. By hiring an experienced and efficient workers compensation lawyer, you are protected against future discomfort or difficulties that occur as a direct result of a work injury.
When you hire the Law Offices of Ala Alikhani, P.A. to represent you, we go to extremes to ensure employers and their insurance companies are held accountable and that you receive the benefits you are entitled to by the law.
Were you injured at work? Contact us for a FREE consultation. We are available throughout all times of the day to discuss your case with you. Our office is fluent in Creole and Spanish.
-FREE CONSULTATION
-No out of pocket fees or costs unless you recover.
-Covering Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and all throughout the State of Florida.
370 Camino Gardens Blvd., Suite 325
Boca Raton, FL 33432
TOLL FREE: (844) 762-8155