If you were injured at work, chances are you underwent a lot of stress both during and after the accident. In fact, oftentimes the period following the accident is the most stressful. As you navigate the paperwork that needs to be done, the phone calls that go back and forth, and the negotiating that all parties will try to make happen so that they come out on the winning end can be very overwhelming. A majority of the time, the insurance company will try to get you to settle on your claim, meaning that you do not take it to court, but settle outside of court. This might sound more attractive to you, because after all, who wants to sit through a court hearing? But, you should seek counsel before doing so because the insurance company has plenty of experience in negotiating for the lowest settlement possible and getting you to accept in the heat of the moment.
A Lump Sum Settlement
In Florida, the most common type of settlement is a lump sum settlement. This means you accept x amount of money for the injuries you experienced on the job. This settlement will cover your medical expenses and any other monetary sums you require, such as for pain and suffering or lost wages. In exchange for the lump sum, however, according to Florida law, the case is closed. You are no longer eligible to make any claims against the insurance company for future medical costs or financial difficulties you face in the future as a result of the accident.
How an Attorney Helps
Knowing that this is a one-time shot for you and if you make a mistake and settle for a lower amount you are out of luck, you need an attorney. If you don’t use legal counsel, you could wind up in financial distress as a result of not getting all of your medical bills covered or not predicting the amount of wages you would lose as a result of your injury. An experienced attorney can help you through the process and ensure that you are more than covered for the experience you underwent on the job.
This goes for almost any type of injury that occurs on the job with the exception of very minor injuries that do not require a great deal of medical attention or lost time at work.
