Experienced Workers' Compensation L
awyer
If you have suffered an on-the-job injury, you probably are eligible to receive Workers' Compensation benefits as prescribed by law. Unfortunately, your employer (or the insurance carrier that actually pays the benefits for the employer) may not voluntarily agree to provide those benefits in a timely way. And when you are hurt, time is everything --- you need prompt treatment, and you need prompt compensation payments. Furthermore, even if they do agree to pay for medical treatment we oftentime discover that folks who come to us for help have received low-ball settlement offers. Victims of work-related accidents end up victims again at the hands of the very people who should be providing assistance by law.These situations often result in the loss of thousands of dollars in benefits.
Let me help you. For a free case evaluation with an experienced Workers' Compensation attorney, call 256-238-0038 or e-mail us today.
My firm has handled many cases in the Anniston, Calhoun County and surrounding counties over the years involving a wide variety of injuries and conditions related to on-the-job accidents, including:
- Strains, sprains and torn ligaments and tendons with poor healing
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Burns and chemical exposure
- Occupational disease
- Loss of hearing or vision
- Slip and fall injuries
- Herniated and ruptured disks
- Neck, shoulder and back injuries
- Bone fractures and breaks with poor healing
- Closed head injuries
- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) and other pain syndromes
- Nerve damage
- Psychological injury coupled with physical injury
- Death
You Have Rights; Let Me Help You Understand and Exercise Them
The Alabama Workers' Compensation Act was enacted by the Alabama Legislature in 1919 to provide medical and financial benefits for workers who sustain an injury or illness while on the job.The Act is long and complex, comprised of 340 sections spread out over 293 pages (not counting supplements) in Sections 25-5-1 through 25-5-340, Code of Alabama. These Code sections have been interpreted by the courts over the last 89 years in thousands of cases but throughout one thing has remained constant: the Act has been construed to have as its overriding purpose the protection of injured workers from the catastrophic effect of injuries arising out of employment. Holder v. Weatherly, 456 So. 2d 812 (Ala. Civ. App. 1984). It doesn't matter if you were careless or partly to blame for the accident --- blame is not an issue. The question should simply be this: did the accident arise out of and during the course of your employment? If the answer is "Yes" your employer is responsible for promptly providing medical treatment and promptly paying temporary total compensation to you. Then comes the next big issue: how much should the employer pay, and for how long?
You've Suffered an Injury on the Job: Now What?
The first step after an injury is to notify your employer immediately of your work-related injury or illness. You must promptly report work-related injuries to your supervisor or the person responsible for handling injuries at your employment. Start keeping a calendar of such things as days of work missed, names and contact information of witnesses to the accident, comments made to you by workers about the claim (especially supervisory personnel), doctor and therapy visits, medications, when and how much you are being paid (retain your compensation pay stubs) for your missed work.
If you do not receive prompt medical treatment, have concerns about the amount or timing of temporary total (compensation) pay you are receiving, have concerns about the quality of medical care you are receiving or you have other questions about your rights under the Alabama Workers' Compensation Act, visit our frequently asked questions page or contact me for a free case evaluation. Our office is in Anniston within easy driving distance from Cleburne, Etowah, Talladega, Clay and St. Clair counties.
Charles H. Rice, Attorney at Law
1311 Gurnee Ave
Anniston, AL 36201-4568
Telephone: 256-238-0038 | Fax: 256-236-2668