Work Injury Attorney in Oregon
Accidents in the workplace are inevitable and are common in Oregon.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 43,400 non-fatal workplace injuries were reported in Oregon in 2020. If you or your loved ones have been involved in a workplace injury in Oregon, it’s in your best interest to apply for workers’ compensation benefits.
These benefits are paid by your employer’s insurance company and are designed to cover medical expenses related to injury and lost wages due to the time off work.
Unfortunately, employers and their insurance companies often reject workplace compensation claims even when they are legitimate—which leaves you no option but to pay out of pocket.
The claim adjusters and insurer’s attorneys will reject claims and will do whatever it takes to prevent substantial payouts. Fortunately, there are things a workers’ compensation attorney can do to ensure your claim has the best chance of getting approved.
Hiring a dedicated workers’ comp attorney will increase your chances of obtaining the benefits you deserve. At Palace Law, we fight for justice for the injured – it’s all we do.
Types of Workplace Injury Claims
Every year, workers are involved in various on-the-job accidents, including falls, electrocution, repetitive stress injuries, and even motor vehicle accidents.
If you’ve been injured in a work-related accident in Oregon, an experienced workers’ compensation attorney from Palace Law can help you pursue the benefits and financial compensation you deserve. Our trusted workers’ comp attorneys can help you with a wide variety of workers’ compensation claims related to:
- Construction-related accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Ladder accidents
- Wrongful death
- Welding accident
- Brain injuries
- Occupational diseases
- Scaffold accidents
When an employee suffers a critical injury at the workplace, getting a full and fair amount of workers’ compensation benefits is essential. An experienced attorney can help ensure that workers’ compensation claims are submitted on time, along with substantial evidence needed to secure maximum benefits.
Working With You to Obtain Equitable Compensation
When you file a workers’ compensation claim, your employer’s insurance attorneys will work overtime, looking for holes in your case that would make their client deny your claim. These attorneys represent the insurance company, hence don’t have your best interest in mind.
Therefore, it’s important to have an experienced attorney on your side that will represent your best interests. A qualified workers’ comp attorney from Palace Law will go above and beyond to understand every little detail of your case and tilt the scales in your favor.
At Palace Law, we’ll help you:
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Develop Medical Evidence
Insufficient medical evidence is one of the main reasons workers’ compensation claims are denied. Even if your claim is approved, you’re more likely to receive the full benefits you deserve if you have strong medical evidence that supports your case.
We can help you develop strong medical evidence by:
- Gathering medical records
- Conducting depositions of medical professionals
- Representing you when called upon to appear and answer questions at a deposition
- Obtaining medical opinion from your doctors and through an independent medical examination
- Recommending treatment with certain physicians
Where the case demands, we can also gather evidence showing your employer’s history of poor workplace safety and even statements from your colleagues, family, and friends.
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Negotiate a Settlement Agreement
It can be easy to gather evidence on your own, but when it comes to negotiating a settlement, you should never do it alone.
You’ll be dealing with experts from the insurance company’s side who work in the insurer’s best interest. Their goal is to keep the payouts to the minimum and will do anything to deny you the claim. For this reason, hiring an experienced workers’ compensation attorney is recommended.
At Palace Law, we’ll review your case and estimate how much you deserve based on many factors, including:
- The extent of your injuries
- Lost wages resulting from injuries
- Whether you’ll have lasting impairment based on your doctor’s opinion
We understand the negotiation tricks used by insurance companies, and we’ll work to overcome these with hard evidence that justifies fair compensation.
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Represent You at the Hearing
Finally, we’ll represent you at the hearing if a fair settlement agreement is not reached. We’ll present your case to the judge, make opening and closing arguments, prepare witnesses, and make objections when necessary.
Before the hearing, our attorneys will gather sufficient evidence, take depositions from witnesses, and ensure all relevant documents are submitted on time. We conduct this “discovery phase” to ensure a favorable outcome during the hearing.
What Workers’ Compensation Benefits are Available?
Workers’ compensation insurance benefits employees who get injured or sick from a work-related cause. The benefits vary from state to state, but some, like medical coverage, are common across all states.
Some states will provide additional benefits such as vocational retraining and return-to-work programs. In the event an employee dies from a work-related injury, some states, like Oregon, provide financial benefits to surviving dependents.
Here’s a snapshot of workers’ compensation benefits in Oregon.
Medical Care
This includes the cost of medical care such as diagnostic tests, hospital stays, emergency treatment, nursing care, physical therapy, and medical equipment (like wheelchairs).
Disability Benefits
Two types of disability benefits are provided: temporary total disability (TTD) and permanent total disability (PTD) benefits. In both cases, the maximum period of payment is the length of the disability. Injured employees who are unable to return to work are eligible for these benefits.
Rehabilitation
Oregon workers’ compensation benefits include vocational assistance to help injured employees return to work after an on-the-job injury. Some may recommend psychological rehabilitation if a worker has suffered a mental injury.
Dependency Benefits
In the event of death, surviving family members are entitled to dependency benefits. Death benefits are paid to the worker’s spouse and children. Burial costs are also covered. These benefits stop when a spouse remarries.
How Long Do I Have to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Oregon?
The statute of limitation sets out the time frame within which a claim must be filed. In Oregon, a workers’ compensation claim must be filed within one year from the date of injury.
How Palace Law Can Help
If you were injured at work and want to file a workers’ compensation claim, contact us today for a free consultation and free workers’ compensation case assessment. At Palace Law, we’ve helped thousands of injured employees win their cases, and we are prepared to help you too.