Over the last couple of decades, workplace injuries have decreased because of improved safety standards. However, individuals who suffer workplace injuries still face some of the same hurdles that have plagued victims in years past.
While injured workers have to wait for their claim settlements through workers’ compensation, they may find themselves in despair over their financial situations. Lack of income can quickly turn a good situation bad. An option now exists that can be just the lifeline that injured workers need. The Legal Funding Group can help by providing lawsuit funding to help relieve financial pressure while cases are being fought by diligent attorneys. A lawsuit cash advance can help provide for daily expenses, food, rent, medical needs and more.
Injuries in the Workplace
An injury or illness brought about through events or exposure at work constitutes eligibility for workers’ compensation. In general, such illnesses or injuries are physical. However, psychological injuries are also included.
Some employers choose to compensate injured employees for medical bills and lost wages themselves. There are federal and state laws that require employers to provide workers’ compensation insurance to help injured employees while they recover from the illness or injury.
Some occupations, like independent contractors, are not protected by workers’ compensation laws. In some instances, however, such independent contractors might be able to sue an employer for a work injury that was caused by a violation of workplace safety regulations.
Most Common Work Injuries
When work-related illnesses and injuries do occur, some of them can be severe enough to be life-altering. Listed below are some common work-related injuries:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Neck and back injuries
- Strokes and heart attacks
- Falls from various heights
- Strains, sprains and tears
- Burns – chemical and thermal
- Occupational diseases
- Electrocution on the job
- Construction site accidents
- Tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome
Occupations with High Risk for Accidents
Certain professions and industries are known to be more dangerous. History has shown that work-related injuries and fatalities are most prevalent in jobs that require workers to perform extensive amounts of manual labor – jobs like roofers, loggers and construction workers. Some occupations with very high risks include:
- Ground maintenance workers
- Rangers, farmers, plus other agricultural managers
- Logging workers
- Roofers
- Commercial fishermen and other fishing workers
- Truck drivers
- Construction trade first-line supervisors
- Construction extraction workers
- Structural steel and iron workers
- Flight engineers and aircraft pilots
- Recycle-and-reuse material collectors
What is Workers’ Compensation
The purpose of workers’ compensation is to provide a portion of the normal income that injured employees are forced to lose because of injuries sustained while performing their jobs. Many people are unable to make it financially while waiting for their claims to process. In such situations, a lawsuit loan or pre-settlement cash advance may help hold these individuals steady by providing needed finances until they are able to return to work.
Workers’ compensation claims are not evaluated in the same manner as other personal injury claims. Usually, following the acceptance of a case for workers’ comp, next comes the step of determining the level of disability or impairment. This factor is extremely important, because it is used to help set the amount of money the injured worker will be compensated. In addition to consideration of the impairment level, the worker’s age and future potential earning capabilities or lack thereof are major factors as well.
Among the first pieces of information an attorney needs to know is whether a trusted medical expert has completely examined the injured worker. The full spectrum of a victim’s injury must be determined before a lawyer can start to work toward compensation. In some cases, this determination can be made rather quickly, but with others, it may be years before treatment is completed and the victim can return to work, if at all.
Each state has varying rules that govern workers’ compensation benefits. Likewise, there are wide variations in the processes for receiving compensation.
Does an Injured Worker Need a Lawyer?
In situations where an individual is required to face off with industry giants like insurance companies, a prudent individual may decide that it’s best to let an experienced, skilled attorney handle the litigation. The value of having someone to gather all pertinent evidence to challenge the insurance company’s position should never be underestimated. A knowledgeable legal representative will get depositions, ask for independent medical exams, and bring in expert witnesses.
In the following situations, it is evident why a skilled lawyer is necessary:
- There is a preexisting condition
- The claim has been denied
- There is a dispute over permanent disability rating
- Work ability is affected
- Cannot get the needed treatment
- There is an upcoming workers’ comp hearing
- Other government benefits are received
How Can Legal Funding Help?
Because claims for workers’ compensation can potentially take a long time, even years, to settle, the odds of an injured worker’s finances being able to hold successfully are slim. Pre-settlement funding is a way for these individuals to get a helping hand financially, and it allows the injured person to borrow from the funds that will be forthcoming from the workplace injury claim.
A number of claimants nationwide have benefited from pre-settlement loans. We at The Legal Funding Group have witnessed countless injury victims receiving the emergency cash necessary for rent, car payments, utilities, and other financial needs. Various work-related injuries qualify for this type of financial assistance. Conditions like fractures, soft-tissue injuries, or traumatic brain injuries are included. If you are actively in a workers’ comp claim and have retained a lawyer to recover compensation for your injuries, you may qualify for a lawsuit cash advance on the proceeds of your settlement.
Do I Qualify For Workers’ Comp Legal Funding?
If you were injured on the job or suffered an illness during your course of employment, you qualify to apply for workers’ comp lawsuit funding.
Contact us at The Legal Funding Group for help in getting the needed pre-settlement funding that will help keep you financially stable until your settlement is completed.
