Your Dothan Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
Workers’ compensation is a term that the vast majority of people are familiar with, but few people know very much about. Many people are not aware that in the State of Alabama, the workers’ compensation system is actually based upon requirements established by the Alabama Workers’ Compensation Act, which is part of the Alabama Code—the body of laws established over the years by the legislature. Generally, employers will meet the requirements of the Act by purchasing insurance, though some large employers have the ability to be “self-insured” with the proper approval of the Alabama Department of Labor.
Understanding Workers’ Compensation in Dothan, Alabama
The Purpose of Workers’ Compensation
The workers’ compensation system is designed to provide certain benefits in the event an employee is injured while acting in the line and scope of their employment. It is essentially an accident insurance program, mandated by law, that provides compensation, vocational rehabilitation benefits, and medical care for covered workers. The standard is that the employer is required to provide all reasonable and necessary medical care to address whatever injury the employee suffered. In the event the on-the-job accident results in the employee’s death, there are also certain benefits that will assist the employee’s dependents.
Steps to Take When Injured at Work
The first thing to know is that when you are injured at work, you will want to notify your supervisor or other designated company representative as soon as possible. Failure to provide the required notice can potentially lead to a loss of benefits one might otherwise have been entitled to. Once notice is given, the employer is required to facilitate any medical care that is necessary to address the injury. The specific nature of that care will naturally vary depending upon the nature of the injury. Be sure to coordinate your medical care through your employer, as the law provides that medical care must be given by an authorized treating physician or other medical professional. An employee is not entitled to independently seek their own medical professional, at least not if the employee wants the employer to provide payment for the care given.
Temporary and Permanent Compensation Benefits
In the event the injury is severe enough to require the employee to miss time from work, there are temporary compensation benefits which will generally be due. If the injury results in a permanent impairment, there will also be compensation due as a result of that permanent impairment.
Navigating the Workers’ Compensation Claim Process
The pursuit of a workers’ compensation claim can be a complex and confusing process for those who are unfamiliar with the intricacies of the applicable law. If you are injured on the job, you should be aware your employer will be represented by an insurance company that is intent on managing the resulting claim such that their financial outlay is minimized. They will use their knowledge of the system in pursuit of that goal. In contrast, the attorneys at The Cochran Firm - Dothan have the best interest of the injured employee at heart and they use their knowledge of the workers’ compensation system and their long experience to pursue a fair outcome for their clients.
Contingency Fee Basis
Our firm works on a contingent basis, meaning you do not have to worry about being billed on an hourly basis. Instead of an hourly fee, we retain a percentage of the recovery when the claim is successfully concluded, and only when it is successfully concluded.
Secure Fair and Just Compensation in Dothan, Alabama with The Cochran Firm - Dothan
The attorneys with The Cochran Firm – Dothan have the knowledge and experience to secure fair and just compensation for you in the event you are injured at work. Our attorneys have represented people just like you for over forty years. When you need help following a workplace injury, please feel free to call our office. At The Cochran Firm – Dothan, we are here when you need us.
National Reach with Local Expertise
Remember, the attorneys at The Cochran Firm – Dothan are part of the larger family of Cochran Firm offices located throughout the United States. For our clients, this means access to the collective knowledge and experience of a vast array of attorneys who have collectively won more than $30 billion on behalf of their clients. This means access to attorneys with particularized subject matter expertise in a broad range of personal injury cases, ranging from commercial vehicle litigation, medical malpractice matters, defective products, and more. Cochran Firm attorneys regularly lecture at continuing legal education seminars so that other attorneys may benefit from their vast experience with complex cases.
Areas We Serve
While the attorneys with The Cochran Firm – Dothan have worked with cases throughout the United States, our primary service area includes Alabama, Northwest Florida, and Southwest Georgia.