If you were hurt on the job or your work made you sick, you need to get benefits by filing a workers’ compensation case. If you find yourself facing the prospect of making a workers’ comp claim, you probably have one question foremost on your mind: how long will my workers’ compensation case take?
Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question, as every case is different and many factors affect how long it takes for you to get benefits. At Howell & Christmas, our Charleston workers’ compensation attorneys want to help you resolve your case as quickly as possible and maximize your recovery. Give us a call right away after an illness or injury so we can help you move forward. En Español.
When you call Howell & Christmas for help with your workers’ comp case, you do not pay any legal fees unless we help you get benefits. We’ll evaluate your case, help you understand the timeline for your claim, and advocate for you to get your case moving forward. We’ll also answer questions you may have including:
- How long does a workers’ comp case take?
- How can I get my workers’ comp benefits as soon as possible?
- How can a workplace injury lawyer help me get benefits quickly
Length of a Workers’ Comp Claim
If you report your injury right away and the insurer agrees your injury is work-related, you should begin getting benefits right away. However, if there is a dispute over whether your injury is covered, you could find yourself going through multiple levels of appeal and it could take weeks, months, or even years to get the coverage you deserve.
Once benefits begin, you should get temporary disability benefits until your condition improves as much as it is going to. This is called the maximum medical improvement point. Once you’ve reached MMI, your temporary disability will end and you’ll be re-evaluated to find out if you should get permanent disability or return to work.
Howell & Christmas will help you to follow the necessary steps for providing notice of injury, and ensuring your claim is moving forward as fast as possible. We’ll work hard and bring decades of collective legal experience to the table to help you fight to get your full benefits fast.
Speeding Up Your Benefits
The best way to make sure you get workers’ compensation benefits as soon as possible is to report your injury right away, document everything, and make a compelling argument as to why your injuries should be covered. If you must appeal a benefits denial, the process is going to take much longer than if you submit a strong claim and are approved the first time.
For applicants concerned about getting their costs covered, getting a timely approval of benefits may literally seem like a matter of life and death. Hiring an attorney can help you to make sure all paperwork is completed, all forms and notifications are provided by the deadlines, and all documentation is submitted to maximize the chance of being approved for benefits with your initial claim. Our workers’ compensation guide can also help you to better understand the steps you need to take to move forward with your claim.
How a Lawyer Can Help
Howell & Christmas has helped many clients who sustained workplace injuries to pursue claims for benefits. Give us a call as soon as possible to learn about the techniques and legal strategies we use to try to help ensure that you get the maximum benefits as quickly as you can.
