Carmel Workers Comp Lawyer

An injury caused by the conditions of your workplace can quickly become a difficult challenge to overcome. If you have questions about workers compensation insurance or filing your claim for benefits, reach out to a Carmel workers compensation lawyer.

The number of people who can afford to simply take time off after dealing with a work illness or injury is very small. That’s why Indiana requires employers to carry workers compensation coverage on their insurance policies—as a form of protection for employees who would be in dire straits without financial support during their recovery.

Workers compensation was designed to offer a source of income to injured or ill employees who will need to take time off of work to heal. If you have questions about your claim or need help handling a wrongful denial, contact a qualified Carmel workers comp lawyer at Kooi Law.

Workers Compensation Eligibility in Indiana

To qualify for the workers compensation benefits you need, you need to have been employed at your workplace at the time of the injury. You are agiven coverage from the moment you are hired. How long you’ve been working at the company and whether you are a full- or part-time employee is irrelevant.

You have an obligation to notify your employer of both your diagnosis and intention to seek workers comp benefits within thirty days of the incident in question. If you fail to do so, your employer and the work comp insurer are likely to deny your claim. Other noteworthy criteria for qualification include being paid for the work being done and actively completing the duties of your position when the injury occurred.

A few things could cause your claim to be rightfully denied. Being inebriated at the time of the injury, working off the clock, failing to disclose a pre-existing condition, committing a crime, and otherwise being in violation of the company’s code of conduct all could put the status of your Carmel workman’s comp claim in jeopardy.

If a loved one of yours had an on-the-job injury resulting in his or her death, you could receive work comp benefits as a spouse or child of the deceased.

What to Expect from Your Benefits

Benefits you receive through workers compensation are meant to replace the income you would have made if you had been able to continue to work without injury. They also will cover any medical expenses that stem from your injury or illness, as Indiana does not hold injured employees responsible for coverage of medical bills tied to work injuries.

Your employer’s insurance company should be prepared to cover the full extent of your medical expenses, which often include the costs of prescriptions, physical and occupational therapy, hospital bills, copays, costs of traveling to and from your physician’s office, and even rehabilitation services.

Your benefits can be paid at a rate of up to two-thirds of your pre-injury income. This amount is capped based on the state average income, however.

After your claim has been approved, you’ll begin accruing benefits as of the fifteenth day after the injury. You can expect to start receiving these benefits once you’ve been unable to work for around twenty-one days.

Appealing Your Denial

It is not uncommon for insurance companies to deny even the most deserving workers comp claims. When your claim has been denied, your Carmel work comp lawyer’s first steps will be to provide any necessary supporting documentation or medical records, as well as answer any questions the insurance adjuster might have about your condition.

If, despite our attempts to resolve the issue at hand, the insurer remains rigid in the denial, we can reach out to the Worker’s Compensation Board of Indiana to see what other options we have for your claim.

Other options will include applying to have your claim adjusted and submitted to the board to review directly. Being denied in your first attempt at obtaining benefits doesn’t mean you’re out of luck, as many denials are eventually overturned after we are able to prove your need for benefits to the insurance company.

When all else fails, we won’t hesitate to take your case to court, where we’ll fight hard for the benefits you’re entitled to.

Contact a Carmel Workers Comp Attorney

When you’re facing a denied claim for workers compensation benefits and you have questions that pertain to the details of your case, contact a lawyer at Kooi Law. Our highly trained attorneys have the experience you need backing you up when dealing with workers comp claims. We can help you understand the system and be successful in your pursuit of benefits.

Schedule your no-cost claim evaluation with a Carmel workers comp lawyer by contacting our office at (317) 569-1335 or filling out the quick contact form at the bottom of this page.