Workers’ compensation is a right that almost every Arizona worker has. It’s a no-fault form of insurance that’s in place specifically to protect you if you get hurt at work. This means that as long as your injury happened during the normal course of your work duties, you should be entitled to coverage under workers’ comp.
However, navigating Arizona workers’ comp laws can be tricky, and insurance companies will likely look for any excuse to deny your claim. That’s why having an experienced Phoenix workers’ compensation lawyer on your side will benefit you. As the gold standard of injury law, Goldwater Law Firm is here to help you take the first steps toward the money you’re owed!
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Our Phoenix Workers’ Comp Lawyers Understand What You’re Going Through
Whether you’ve been denied workers’ compensation or you’re filing for benefits for the first time after a work-related accident, you may be feeling a range of emotions from confused and betrayed to angry and scared. Workers’ compensation insurance is supposed to be there to protect you; unfortunately, too many people are denied and have to struggle for the benefits they so badly need and deserve.
We know what you’re going through and are here to help you navigate what comes next. Whether you’ve suffered a repetitive motion injury or slipped on the way to the bathroom, you deserve workers’ compensation benefits. You also deserve to focus on what’s important—your recovery. Together with our network of Phoenix workers’ compensation law firm partners, we can take on the hard part of fighting with the insurance company while you focus on getting better again.
We work with some of Phoenix’s biggest and most successful firms, so you can be sure you’re getting a team with the tools to get you the benefits you need.
What Workers’ Compensation Benefits Are Available to Me?
Workers’ compensation exists to protect Arizona workers in the event of a workplace accident or illness. If you’ve been hurt or suffered an illness due to the nature of your job, workers’ comp benefits can provide financial assistance to help cover:
Medical Care
A work-related injury can be costly. You may face huge medical bills from doctor’s visits, medication, physical therapy, and surgical procedures. If you cannot return to work while recovering, you may have trouble paying these bills. Workers’ compensation can cover any reasonable medical expenses necessary for your recovery.
Lost Wages
Workers’ comp can also cover a portion of your lost wages while you recover. Depending on the severity of your injury or illness, you may be entitled to one of the four types of disability benefits under workers’ compensation:
- Temporary partial disability (TPD): You are still able to do some work, and your doctor believes you will eventually make a full recovery.
- Temporary total disability (TTD): You’re completely unable to work during your recovery, but you are expected to be able to return to work eventually.
- Permanent partial disability (PPD): Your injury will forever limit the type of work tasks you’re able to perform.
- Permanent total disability (PTD): Your condition is totally disabling, and you aren’t expected to make a recovery.
Your permanent disability payments will depend on whether your injury or illness is “scheduled” or “unscheduled.” Your Phoenix workers’ compensation attorney can help you understand what this means.
Death Benefits
Losing a loved one to a work-related accident isn’t just traumatic on an emotional level, but it can also result in financial distress. Death benefits help the family of the deceased cover expenses such as funeral costs, loss of income contributed to the household, and more.
Our law firm partners can help you file a workers’ compensation claim and fight for the benefits you and your family need. Learn more today during a free, no-obligation consultation with a member of our team.
Are You Struggling to Get Workers’ Comp Benefits for a Phoenix Workplace Injury or Illness?
Don’t wait to get the legal help you need. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can help you take the right steps toward the money you deserve.
How to File a Workers’ Comp Claim in Arizona
While most ill or injured workers should be covered under workers’ compensation in the event of a workplace accident, it’s essential to take the right steps, as there are many rules and regulations surrounding workers’ comp claims.
If you’ve been hurt on the job, keep these steps in mind:
- Report the Accident to Your Supervisor
The first thing you need to do is let your employer know you were hurt. We recommend that you do so in writing. This prevents your employer from claiming that you did not inform them of your injury or illness.
- Submit the Proper Forms to the ICA
It is your responsibility to file a claim within one year of the date of your injury by submitting a Workers’ Form of Injury to the Industrial Commission of Arizona (ICA). If you fail to do so, you risk paying out of pocket for all your injury or illness-related expenses.
Your employer is also required to file an Employer’s Report of Injury, but remember that this is not a claim; it is just a report of the injury.
After you file your claim, the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier will be notified. It has 21 days from this point to accept or deny your claim.
- Get Medical Attention
To receive workers’ comp benefits, you must be seen by a medical professional. Make sure to attend all doctor’s appointments and follow your doctor’s treatment plan.
- Contact an Experienced Workers’ Comp Attorney
Finally, it’s important to contact a qualified Phoenix, AZ, workers’ comp lawyer to help you navigate the process and any difficulties that may come up along the way. This could give you the best chance of receiving the total amount you deserve.
A workers’ compensation attorney will handle every aspect of your claim. They can also help if the workers’ compensation insurer denies your claim. They can determine the reasoning for the denial and represent you in front of the administrative law judge, telling your side of the story and giving you a fighting chance for benefits.
Common Workplace Injuries and Illnesses
Workers’ compensation is in place to cover any workplace accident or illness that occurs during the normal course of your duties.
Listed below are some of the most common workplace injuries. If you’ve suffered one of these injuries or any injury on the job, you should be entitled to benefits, regardless of who was at fault for the accident:
- Repetitive motion injuries, like carpal tunnel syndrome
- Slip and falls
- Injuries from moving or lifting heavy objects
- Injuries sustained while using equipment at work
- Toxic exposure illnesses
- COPD
- Asthma
- Pneumonitis
- Asbestosis
- Poisoning
Frequently Asked Questions
As long as you were hurt while on the clock and performing your regular duties, you should be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits, even if you were outside of the work site. For example, if you were in a car accident while driving for work, you are likely entitled to workers’ comp benefits.
There are a few kinds of injuries that aren’t covered. These include those that might occur at work but are outside your normal duties. For example, if you get into a fight with another employee or if you’re injured while committing a crime or intoxicated, workers’ comp likely won’t cover you. Your Phoenix, AZ, workers’ comp lawyer can advise whether your injury is covered or not.
Your injury or illness may develop over time and can still be covered by workers’ compensation. A prime example is tendonitis from swinging a hammer over and over every day.
Yes and no. In Arizona, the initial doctor you see must be the one chosen by your employer. After that, you may seek further medical attention from your primary care physician to confirm what the initial examiner determined.
The good news is that you have nothing to lose by calling a Phoenix, AZ, workers’ comp lawyer. Our co-counsels work on a contingency-fee basis. There’s no fee and no obligation to receive a case evaluation, and there won’t be any fees if you don’t get paid. Don’t leave your benefits up to chance. Contact Goldwater Law Firm today to discover your legal options and how we may help!
Get Help from a Phoenix Workers' Compensation Lawyer Today
Getting the benefits you need from a workers’ compensation claim is often more difficult than it should be. However, you don’t need to handle it alone. The Goldwater Law Firm works with some of the country’s biggest and most successful firms, so we can be sure that we are pairing you with the right attorney for your case. Call today to get started for free.