Suffering an injury at your job can be a challenging experience both financially and mentally. You should consider talking to an experienced attorney to find out if you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
Phillips Law Group has been helping injured workers throughout Arizona for nearly three decades. We have recovered over $1 billion in compensation, including $834,000 for an employee who sustained a broken shoulder, a torn rotator cuff and nerve damage. Founder Jeffrey Phillips is a member of the National Trial Lawyers Association ”“ Top 100.
Contact our firm today for a free review of your workers’ compensation claim. You will not be charged any legal fees unless we obtain benefits on your behalf.
Call Phillips Law Group today at 602-222-222 or fill out ourfree online formand someone will contact you shortly.
How Do I Know if I am Covered by Workers’ Comp?
Most employers in the state of Arizona are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance to help protect employees in case of injury. There are some exceptions, such as for domestic workers or independent contractors.
However, employers sometimes misclassify workers as independent contractors when they are employees. There are many factors your attorney may need to consider when determining if you should be considered an employee: whether the company determines the hours worked, the control your employer has over your work, and other issues.
Workers’ compensation cases are unlike personal injury cases in that negligence does not need to be proven to obtain compensation. You just need to prove you were injured or became ill in the course of your work at a time you were scheduled to be working. In many cases, the injury must have occurred at your workplace, but there are times when offsite injuries may be covered.
Contact Phillips Law Group today if you have any questions about your eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits.
How Much Compensation Can I Receive?
This is one of the first questions most injury victims ask when they are looking for a workers’ compensation lawyer. There are different types of benefits, depending the severity of your injury and how long it limits your ability to do the same job you did before you got hurt:
- Medical bills ”“ Reasonable and necessary treatment for your injuries is covered by the workers’ compensation system. If your employer has private workers’ compensation insurance, you can choose your own doctor. If your employer is self-insured and contracts with a doctor registered with the Industrial Commission of Arizona, you must go to a doctor chosen by your employer.
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) ”“ Most injured workers receive either temporary partial disability or temporary total disability before their injury reaches the point of maximum medical improvement. Temporary partial disability is for those who are somewhat limited by their injury but can still do some amount of work. As they wait to heal as much as possible, they may be eligible to receive two-thirds of the difference between what they are currently earning and what they earned before the injury. The maximum monthly amount depends on the date the injury occurred.
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD) ”“ These benefits are for injury victims who cannot return to work in any capacity while recovering. These victims may be eligible to receive 66 and two-thirds percent of their previous wages on a monthly basis.
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) ”“ If you are permanently disabled but can still do some type of work, you may be able to receive 66 and two-thirds percent of your previous monthly wage, with a maximum of $3,000 a month. The most you can receive in a week is $460.
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD) ”“ When an injury victim is permanently disabled and cannot perform any job-related tasks, he or she may be issued lifetime benefits and receive payments on a weekly basis. These are worth 66 and two-thirds percent of the wage earned before the injury.
- Death Benefits ”“ In the unfortunate event of the death of a loved one from a work-related injury, the surviving family members can receive up to $5,000 in burial expenses, along with 66 and two-thirds of the deceased’s average weekly wage.
Our Peoria workers’ compensation attorneys at Phillips Law Group have extensive knowledge of the workers’ compensation laws in Arizona and we are dedicated to fighting for full compensation for our clients.
Contact a Peoria workers’ compensation lawyer by calling 602-222-222 .
Deadline for Filing a Claim
You should always notify your employer about an injury as soon as possible. This helps to connect your injury to the accident and may help prevent your employer or others from questioning your credibility.
The workers’ compensation claim itself must be filed within one year of the accident. If you miss the deadline, your claim will likely be rejected.
Your employer has its own notification requirements for workplace injuries:
- Non-fatal injuries must be reported to the Industrial Commission of Arizona within 10 days
- Fatal injuries must be reported within eight hours to the Arizona Division of Occupations Safety and Health (ADOSH)
- ADOSH must be notified within 24 hours about a worker requiring hospitalization or for the loss of an eye or limb
After reporting your injury, make sure to obtain medical treatment as soon as possible and follow your treatment plan, as doing these things support your credibility, which can be very important in a workers’ compensation case.
Can a Lawyer Help if my Claim Was Denied?
Workers’ compensation claims are often denied for various reasons. For example, maybe the claim was submitted late, or the employer or insurer questions the legitimacy of the claim (whether it happened while the employee was doing work, whether it happened on company property, etc.).
If your claim is denied, you have only 90 days to submit an appeal. During this time, you and your lawyer should look for additional evidence that may help strengthen your case. Our Peoria workers’ compensation lawyers at Phillips Law Group know how to bolster a workers’ compensation claim to try to overturn a denial.
If you decide to hire our firm for your workers’ compensation case, we can handle the entire legal process so you can rest and recover from your injuries.
What are Some Common Workplace Injuries?
Some occupations carry a much higher injury risk than others. For example, these workers are at higher risk of injury:
- Construction workers
- Machine operators
- Firefighters
- Law enforcement officers
- Factory workers
- Chemical plant workers
- Truck drivers
- Electricians
Some of the more common injuries associated with these professions are:
- Strains and sprains
- Fractures
- Lacerations
- Hearing loss
- Respiratory illness
- Disease
- Pain
- Electrocutions
- Burns
- Spine and back injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Paralysis
- Amputations
- Death
Even if your injury is not listed above, you may still qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.
Schedule Your Free Case Review with a Peoria Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today
Workers’ compensation claims can be overwhelming to try to manage on your own, particularly if your claim is denied and you need to appeal to try to obtain benefits.
The Peoria workers’ compensation lawyers at Phillips Law Group understand the challenges victims face when they are put out of work and unable to support their families. Phillips Law Group has been helping personal injury victims throughout Arizona for over 27 years. Our firm has represented over 155,000 consumer clients since 1997, and we have the resources and legal knowledge to manage the entire process on behalf of our clients.
Take advantage of our free consultation and learn more about your rights as an employee who was injured at the workplace.
Our main office is located in Phoenix at 3101 North Central Ave., Suite 1500, which is only a 30-minute drive from the Peoria Public Library.
Schedule your free consultation today by calling Phillips Law Group at 602-222-222 or by filling out a Free Case Evaluation form.