Under Nevada workers’ compensation law, someone who is permanently disabled due to a work-related injury or illness can technically receive permanent total disability benefits—usually equal to two-thirds of their average weekly wage prior to getting hurt or sick—for the rest of their life. In practice, though, workers’ compensation insurance providers usually try to conclude claims as quickly as possible by getting injured claimants to agree to settlements.
Workers’ compensation settlements in Summerlin are not a bad way for the claims process to end, and it is possible to get a fair settlement that addresses all your needs. That said, negotiating effectively for the settlement you need can be difficult without help from the skilled workers’ compensation lawyers at Shook & Stone.
When Is the Right Time to Settle a Workers’ Comp Claim?
One important thing to understand about settling a workers’ comp claim in Summerlin, Rhodes Ranch, Sovana, Sun City, or anywhere else in Nevada is that the insurance company will not have your best interests at heart at any point in the claims process. Their main goal is always to save themselves money whether that ends up harming you or not, and that can often lead to insurers offering settlements to injured and ill workers long before they know the full extent of the harm they have sustained and the money they will need to make up for that harm.
With this in mind, it is generally best to wait until your physicians have determined you have reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI)—the point at which your physical condition is very unlikely to improve any further and can be thought of as your new normal working condition—before agreeing to any kind of settlement offer. Once you have reached MMI, you will have a much clearer idea of your long-term working and earning capacity, as well as what type of medical treatment you will need moving forward. Then, our attorneys could help you negotiate a fair settlement with that information in mind.
What to Consider During Workers’ Comp Settlement Negotiations
Of course, basic inpatient medical care is just one of the many things you may need to consider when negotiating a workers’ compensation settlement in Summerlin. Depending on the nature of your injury or illness, you may need to identify various forms of rehabilitative and maintenance care that you will likely need in the future and seek reimbursement for them in advance, not to mention things like wheelchairs and other assistive equipment, which a serious disability may necessitate.
Along similar lines, you may need to seek compensation in advance for years or even decades of lost earning capacity or for things like job retraining and vocational rehabilitation services to get you back into the working world. Our diligent lawyers could provide invaluable assistance with ensuring your settlement proposal is as comprehensive and accurate as possible.
A Summerlin Attorney Could Help Pursue a Fair Workers’ Compensation Settlement
Getting the benefits to which you should be entitled through workers’ compensation can be challenging and frustrating under the best circumstances. However, negotiating with the insurance company for a fair settlement to conclude your claim can be next to impossible to accomplish alone, especially if you are still recovering from your injury or dealing with a long-term disability because of it.
Fortunately, you have help available from our team at Shook & Stone with every step of the process for seeking workers’ compensation settlements in Summerlin. Call today for a free consultation.
