If you have recently been hurt or gotten seriously ill on the job, you may already be thinking about—or even started the process of—filing a workers’ compensation claim with your employer. As you may have already learned, the workers’ comp claims process can be far from straightforward, especially if you are new to this system and are dealing with an injury that will prevent you from working for a long time.
Getting help from experienced legal counsel can be key to achieving positive results from this type of claim, but even the best attorneys can only help you build a strong case if you are able to provide them with some help along the way. With this in mind, here are some things you should know about while preparing for your workers’ comp consultation in Las Vegas with a member of our team at Shook & Stone.
What Documents Will You Need for a Workers’ Comp Consultation?
Like every other type of legal proceeding, the success or failure of a workers’ compensation claim is virtually always decided by the amount and quality of evidence that the filing party has to support their claim. For workers’ compensation cases in particular, you will need evidence proving that you meet all the criteria needed to be covered by workers’ comp—in other words, proof that:
- You did in fact suffer the injury you claim to have suffered
- The injury is as bad as you claim it to be
- The injury happened while you were performing job-related duties or was otherwise directly work-related
More specifically, you should do your best to bring all the following documents to your initial consultation:
- Copies of medical records, bills/invoices, and all other documentation related to medical treatment you have already received for your injuries
- A copy of the written report you gave your employer notifying them of your injury
- Any communication you have already had with your employer, their insurance provider, and/or the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Nevada Department of Business & Industrial Relations about your injury and your claim
- Pay stubs, tax returns, and other documents to establish how much money you made in the past and how much income you have lost and will lose in the future due to your injury
- Photos of your injury and the scene where it happened
That said, if you are not able to collect all this information when preparing for a Las Vegas workers’ comp consultation, our attorneys can help you identify any missing documentation and potentially take the lead in tracking it down in order to construct the strongest claim possible on your behalf.
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Preparing to Answer—and Ask—important Questions
Another big part of preparing effectively for a workers’ comp consultation in Las Vegas is being ready to answer questions from the attorney(s) you speak with about your injury and your potential case. Our lawyers will want to know everything you can tell them about the circumstances under which you were hurt, what treatment you have already received, and what steps you have already taken in the workers’ comp filing process as well as what outcomes those steps have had.
At the same time, you should also be ready to ask us questions as well:
- What experience do we have handling injuries like yours?
- What kind of benefits can you expect to receive?
- How much will we charge for our services?
- When will we actually charge you?
These are all important things to know before forming a partnership with any legal professional, and we want everyone we work with to be fully informed of their rights and options throughout the entire legal process.
Preparation Can Help You Make the Most of a Las Vegas Workers’ Comp Consultation
Maybe the most important thing to keep in mind when preparing for your workers’ comp consultation in Las Vegas is that this meeting is just that: a consultation. You are not under any obligation to retain a specific attorney after this initial meeting, and your feelings about a particular legal professional are just as important as what that professional thinks about your possible claim.
If you prepare properly for your consultation, though, you can hit the ground running on your claim if you choose to continue working with our team at Shook & Stone. This could mean getting the benefits you need much more quickly than you otherwise would have. Call today to set up your confidential meeting.
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