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Workers’ compensation is an insurance program that provides medical care, lost income replacement, and return-to-work rehabilitation/retraining benefits to employees who suffer job-related injuries, illnesses, or deaths.
In Idaho, nearly all employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. This no-fault system is meant to protect both employees and employers from paying out-of-pocket when accidents happen. However, recovering the benefits you need isn’t always a straightforward process.
After a workplace injury, you don’t need to struggle to get the benefits you are legally entitled to on your own. The Idaho workers’ compensation lawyers at Sargent Law Firm Injury Lawyers are ready to fight for you. Call 844-SARGENT to learn more about working with our Idaho personal injury lawyer.
Choose Sargent Law Firm Injury Lawyers for Your Idaho Workers’ Compensation Claim
The team at Sargent Law Firm Injury Lawyers is known for providing an exceptional client experience. We are compassionate advocates for those who are struggling to have their benefits approved after a workplace accident.
At our Idaho firm, we make ongoing communication a priority. You won’t have to wonder what’s going on with your case when you hire us. We will also:
- Communicate with all parties involved in your case for you, including insurance companies
- Explain any workers’ compensation laws that apply to your case
- Determine what a fair settlement would look like for you
- Answer any questions you have
- Advocate for your best interests
Contact us online or call our team at 844-SARGENT to learn more about what our Idaho workers’ compensation attorneys can do for you.
Types of Cases Our Idaho Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Handle
Idaho workers’ compensation attorneys can quickly become important advocates in any scenario where an employee has suffered harm while on the job. Some of the types of cases we handle involve:
Workplace Injuries
Any type of accident or incident that occurs at work and leads to physical injuries can be represented by workers’ comp lawyers. This includes slip/trip/falls, strains, sprains, burns, wounds, loss of limbs, head injuries, scarring, loss of bodily functions, and more.
Occupational Illness
Coming into consistent contact with hazardous materials can lead to workplace illnesses, which are covered by workers’ compensation. These include lung/respiratory sickness, repetitive motion injuries like carpal tunnel, skin rashes, and long-term toxin exposures.
Wrongful Denial of Injured Worker Benefits
Even if your case involved a legitimate on-the-job injury or work-related illness, your claim could still be denied. In cases like this, our team can help you appeal a denied claim to seek the benefits you need.
Complex Permanent Disability Ratings
Severe, life-changing injury cases can involve damage to the spinal cord, brain injuries, vision loss, loss of hearing, or manifestation of post-traumatic stress. Having a workers’ comp attorney can ensure that you seek appropriate permanent disability ratings and benefits.
When to Consider Calling an Idaho Workers’ Compensation Law Firm
If you’re experiencing any of the following situations, you might want to hire our work-related accident lawyer:
- Your claim gets denied. Our attorneys can help appeal wrongful denials of legitimate job-related injury or occupational disease claims.
- Your benefits are delayed or disrupted. If needed medical treatments are slow to approve or wage benefits abruptly cease, a lawyer can investigate why and fight to restore them.
- Your care providers are restricted. If employers force you to change doctors or won’t approve specialist referrals, attorneys can demand network exceptions.
- Your treatment is inadequate. If insurance adjusters prevent approval of testing, medications, therapy, or procedures doctors deem necessary, legal advocacy is useful.
- Your permanent impairment rating seems insufficient. Since higher impairment ratings increase permanent disability payouts, lawyers scrutinize rating conclusions.
- Your transition back to work fails. From forcing unrealistic mandates to employer retaliation, attorneys serve as protection buffers.
- Your lump settlement sums seem unfair. Your lawyer can fight to recover compensation for your damages, including wage loss and costs needed to treat your injuries.
You don’t need to wait for problems to happen to get help from a workers’ comp lawyer. Even if you need guidance filing your initial claim, our legal team is here to support you.
Rather than wait for problems to compound, engaging legal counsel promptly keeps injured Idaho workers’ rights protected.
Appealing a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Idaho
Even if you do everything right, your workers’ comp claim could still be denied. This does not mean your claim is invalid or that you can’t get benefits. It just means you will have to work harder to appeal and fight the denial. A workers’ comp lawyer in Idaho can guide you through the appeals process.
Having a lawyer from the start can prevent the simple mistakes that far too often get valid claims denied. For example, you may have filled out forms wrong by accident. When it comes to workers’ comp claims, even a small error can result in delays and denials.
There are other reasons for denials, too. The insurance company might say your injury should not be covered or it isn’t severe enough to qualify for benefits. Our lawyers use evidence to prove you deserve the compensation you need.
Get a free case evaluation
Schedule NowThe Difference Between a Workers’ Comp Claim and a Personal Injury Claim
Workers’ compensation applies to coverage for job-related illnesses and injuries only, while personal injury claims address off-the-job accidents filed against a liable party. If you were injured due to negligence in an accident in a car, in a store, or on private property, you may file a personal injury claim. However, for injuries on the job, you’d file a claim with your employer’s workers’ comp coverage.
Another way workers’ compensation differs from personal injury law is the damages injured parties can recover. Workers’ comp claims cover only the cost of medical treatment and wage replacement. Personal injury claims can result in damages for medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and more.
While there are critical differences between workers’ comp and personal injury claims, they are both meant to help injured people move forward with their lives. Our Idaho personal injury lawyer can help you understand your legal options and seek the money you need.
Getting Death Benefits After a Fatal Idaho Workplace Accident
When a worker is fatally injured on the job, their survivors are left to cope with more than grief – they may also be struggling to make ends meet if the decedent was the family’s primary earner. This is where Idaho’s workers’ compensation death benefits come in. These benefits are meant to provide your family with financial support when you most need it.
In Idaho, the surviving family members eligible to collect workers’ compensation death benefits include:
- Spouses: Legally married spouses can claim death benefits for a portion of the deceased worker’s income as well as a burial allowance. Divorced spouses with court-ordered benefits may also claim certain compensation.
- Children: Unmarried biological or legally adopted minor children under 18 years old can be paid workers’ comp death benefits. Disabled dependents may claim, regardless of their age.
- Other dependents: Significant others and relatives who prove financial dependence on the deceased worker may claim certain benefits.
- Other beneficiaries: In the absence of qualifying relations, any designated persons who prove to be financially impacted may claim death benefits under an insured life designation.
The benefits you may be entitled to may be paid monthly, rather than paid all at once as they often are in workers’ comp cases. When it comes to these payouts, the rules can vary. An attorney can explain them to you as they apply to your claim.
Steps to Take If You Are Hurt on the Job in Idaho
If you suffer a work-related injury or illness, it’s imperative to take these steps to protect the full value of your Idaho workers’ compensation benefits:
- Report it immediately: Alert your supervisor and follow company protocol for incident documentation as soon as possible.
- Get medical help: Even if an injury initially seems minor, seek professional medical evaluation and treatment to have the incident recorded in your medical records. Ask for work restrictions if needed.
- Notify the workers’ compensation carrier: File the claim reporting paperwork required by your employer and their insurance company. If you are unsure how, ask HR for direction. Keep notes with claim information.
- Track all expenses: Keep thorough logs and copies of all prescription invoices, hospital bills, pay stubs for lost wages, and receipts to support your workers’ compensation claim.
- Document the effects of your injury: Maintain a diary outlining how the injury affects your job capacity, changes in flexibility, dexterity, ranges of motion, lifting limits, etc.
- Consult an attorney: For denials, delays in care approvals, or problems with adequate wage or medical benefits, retaining a workers’ comp lawyer to protect your rights is helpful.
- Stay off of social media: Anything you say online can be used to try to reduce or deny your benefits by making it seem as if your injuries are not as serious as you have claimed.
Following these steps while you document evidence to support your claim can ultimately strengthen your workers’ compensation benefits package.
It’s free to speak with us and learn the value of your case today.
Call Us NowIdaho Workers’ Comp Insurance FAQs
Do You Need a Lawyer for a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
Filing a workers’ compensation claim can be a difficult, time-consuming, and stressful process. We have handled many workers’ comp claims in Idaho, and our knowledge of these cases can make the process less stressful for you.
Also, keep in mind that all papers you sign for your claim in an Idaho court are legal and binding. To protect your rights and ensure no mistakes are made, you may want to hire an attorney for legal guidance.
How Long Do You Have to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Idaho?
There is a 60-day deadline to file a workers’ compensation claim after an on-the-job injury in Idaho, according to the Idaho Industrial Commission. If you wait too long to file and the deadline passes, you could lose your benefits. The clock starts ticking on the day of your workplace accident or on the day you become aware of any illness or medical condition that happened as a result of your job.
If you miss the deadline to file, you may have to fight hard for your compensation. Our workers’ compensation lawyer may be able to help you.
How Long Does an Idaho Workers’ Compensation Claim Take?
How long an Idaho workers’ compensation claim can take can vary widely depending on the complexity of injuries, the need for extensive medical treatment, the potential for permanent impairment ratings, and the likelihood of disputes arising.
Consulting an Idaho workers’ compensation attorney can help you understand the timeline and set reasonable expectations for your Idaho workers’ compensation claim.
Talk to Our Idaho Workers’ Compensation Team for Free
You may be thinking about hiring an Idaho workers’ compensation attorney before you begin the claims process to make sure everything goes smoothly. Or you may have already started the claims process on your own, and now you’re running into problems. Either way, we can help you.
The team at Sargent Law Firm Injury Lawyers is here to protect your rights and help you get the support you need to move forward after you are hurt at work. To learn more about your rights and legal options, fill out our online contact form or reach out to us by phone at 844-SARGENT.
