Immediately after being injured in an accident, you are thrown into an adversarial legal system. In other words, the insurance company or the employer has in place a team of adjusters, investigators, and attorneys who are working against you, seeking to pay as little as possible and to get you back to work as quickly as possible whether you are able to or not.
Many job injury victims, already in distressed physical, mental, and financial circumstances, understandably choose to delay what they consider to be the hassles involved in retaining a workers’ compensation attorney. Some may have had a bad experience with an attorney (in a divorce, for example), or they simply do not like or trust attorneys. These people may attempt to represent themselves.
Some job injury victims, in an attempt to avoid paying legal fees, try to represent themselves, and call an attorney only after they realize that they’ve gotten “in over their heads.” Unfortunately, there are many mistakes (such as providing damaging statements to adjusters) that cannot be “undone” by even the most experienced workers’ compensation attorney. Plus, if you wait too long to get legal help, it gets harder to find evidence and witnesses. You also risk losing your claim because of the deadline for filing a Form 18.
The bottom line is…considering the legalities and complexities of the established system for compensating job injury victims, hiring an attorney is usually necessary to “level the playing field,” and to ensure that you receive maximum benefits for your work injury.
If you were injured at work and would like speak with an experienced North Carolina Workers’ Compensation attorney for free, please contact Hardison & Cochran today.
Hardison & Cochran employees three Board-Certified Specialist Workers’ Compensation attorneys to help the people of North Carolina when they have been injured on the job.
Learn 3 Questions Answered About North Carolina Workers’ Compensation here.
