Workers Compensation Lawyer in Dothan

Have you been injured on the job in Dothan or elsewhere in South Alabama? Are you coping with pain and financial stress and having difficulty collecting workers’ compensation benefits? Talk to a knowledgeable workers’ compensation lawyer at Gartlan Injury Law about your legal options and how to proceed.

Most employers in Alabama are required by the Alabama Workers’ Compensation Law to purchase workers’ compensation insurance to provide benefits to employees who are injured on the job. However, if there is a dispute about your eligibility for benefits, the appeals process is complicated. You will need to file a civil lawsuit. You should have a knowledgeable workers’ comp lawyer to guide you through the appeals process.

A workers’ compensation lawyer at Gartlan Injury Law in Dothan is ready to help you if you have been injured on the job anywhere in South Alabama. If you have been denied workers’ compensation benefits after a workplace accident or you believe the benefits package is less than you deserve, let a qualified workers’ compensation attorney review the specifics of the accident and discuss your legal rights to pursue compensation. Our goal at Gartlan Injury Law is to help you get the benefits you need to move forward after an on-the-job injury has disrupted your life.

Call us at (334) 600-1676 to set up a free consultation with a Dothan workers’ compensation attorney.

What Happens After an Alabama Work Injury?

Let’s say you fall on a slippery floor at your workplace and break your arm. You should report the injury promptly to your supervisor or employer. You should ask your supervisor about which doctor you should see for treatment of your work-related injury. You should go to the doctor as directed by your employer and inform the doctor that you were injured at work.

Workers’ compensation pays for necessary medical care including surgery, medications, and prosthetics. Workers’ compensation also provides weekly payments to replace a portion of the injured worker’s lost wages while the worker is disabled and unable to work.

You should follow the doctor’s instructions and keep all follow-up appointments. If you refuse to follow the treatment plan recommended by the doctor or refuse to attend physical rehabilitation, your workers’ compensation coverage may be suspended.

Most employers in Alabama are required by the Alabama Workers’ Compensation Law to have workers’ compensation insurance to provide benefits to workers who are injured on the job. Businesses that employ fewer than five full-time or part-time workers are not required to have workers’ compensation insurance.

The types of workers’ comp benefits generally available to injured workers in Alabama include:

• Medical Treatment including emergency room care, surgery, rehabilitation, mileage reimbursement to medical appointments, and medical devices such as wheelchairs and medications
• Temporary Disability Payments, which cover two-thirds of your weekly wages while you are missing work due to a workplace injury
• Permanent Disability provides weekly workers’ compensation benefits if you are left with a permanent disability as a result of a workplace accident
• Funeral Costs and Death Benefits

How Long Do I Have to Report an Injury That Happened at Work?

The Alabama Workers’ Compensation Law requires that notice of the injury must be made within five days. If your employer accepts your workers’ compensation benefits claim, you should start receiving benefits within a matter of weeks.

The more serious your injury and the larger the medical bills, the more likely the workers’ comp insurance administrator is to dispute your claims or seek to curtail your benefits.

The typical reasons that employers cite when denying claims are that a worker’s injury did not occur on the job, that the injury was caused by intentional misconduct rather than an accident or that the employee was under the influence of drugs or alcohol when the injury occurred.

If your claim has been wrongly denied, you will need to file a lawsuit and go to court to pursue your benefits. You’ll need a determined Dothan workers compensation claim lawyer to file the lawsuit and lead you through the process.

All claims for compensation shall be barred unless the lawsuit is filed with the courts in Alabama within two years of the workplace accident.

What Are Common Injuries That Result in Filing for Alabama Workers’ Compensation?

Any type of accidental injury on the job may be covered by workers’ compensation. Some of the common injuries cited in workers’ compensation claims include:

• Back injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Injuries caused by falls
• Repetitive motion injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome
• Injuries caused by being struck by objects
• Machinery injuries
• Electrocution
• Exposure to toxic chemicals or fumes
• Burns

What Evidence Do I Need for My Workers’ Compensation Case?

You will need employment records showing your employment status at the time of the accident.

You will need to show that you notified your employer in a timely fashion of your work-related injury.

Medical records documenting your injury and its relation to your job duties will weigh heavily in your workers compensation claim case. A doctor may provide testimony about your injury if a hearing is held on a disputed claim. Lack of adequate medical reason is the most common reason that workers’ compensation claims are denied.

In a workers’ comp case, you do not have to prove that anyone was at fault or acted negligently to qualify for benefits. You only need to show that you are entitled to benefits by virtue of your employment and because the accident occurred in the workplace.

A qualified workers’ compensation attorney at Gartlan Injury Law can help you gather the evidence needed to present your most persuasive case for benefits.

Is There a Time Limit on Alabama Workers’ Compensation Benefits?

Under Alabama Workers’ Compensation Law §25-5-7, a worker who suffered a qualifying injury as a result of an on-the-job accident or an occupational disease is entitled to lifetime medical benefits for the work-related injury.

However, many insurance companies may seek to discontinue the benefits after a period of time. You may have to take the insurance company to court to get full benefits available by law. You will need the guidance of a knowledgeable workers’ compensation lawyer.

Contact A Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Alabama

Gartlan Injury Law in Dothan, Alabama, offers free consultations about workplace accidents and workers’ compensation claims. Our knowledgeable attorneys can help you build a strong case after a workplace accident and fight for full benefits available by law to you and your family.

Call us now at (334) 600-1676 to set up a free consultation.