Indianapolis Workers Compensation Lawyers

Indianapolis is a city with many diverse working environments. From Fortune 500 companies to car racing, we have it all. While some workplaces may be more prone to employee injuries than others, many workplaces are required to carry Indiana workers’ compensation insurance. This is required to help employees in the event of an accident or injury.

If you are injured in a work-related incident, you may feel overwhelmed by bills and missed days from work. If you have suffered a more serious, debilitating injury, it may even take you months or years to fully recover. While Indianapolis workers’ comp benefits should cover your medical care and lost wages, work comp claims are not always as straightforward as they seem.

We know that this time can be especially difficult, but at Hensley Legal Group, we pride ourselves on making a difference in our client’s lives. Our personal injury attorneys serve the entire State of Indiana. Since we are a trusted law firm operating on a 12-Part Client Service Guarantee, you risk nothing by scheduling your free consultation. Schedule a home or virtual visit with a workers’ compensation attorney today by calling (317) 526-1440.

Common Workplace Accidents and Injuries

Over the years from 2010 to 2018, Indianapolis’ population increased by 8.3 percent while job opportunities grew even more at the rate of 17.4 percent. As Indianapolis’ population and job opportunities continue to grow steadily, there are more people flocking here to find jobs in a number of different industries. No industry, though, is free from the risk of being injured at work.

Numerous industries carry a higher risk of work injury. If you or your loved one was injured at work in Indianapolis while working in one of these industries or in another sector, we may be able to help you seek the full amount of workers’ compensation to which you are entitled.

Construction

The construction industry is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. Most injuries or fatalities in the construction sector are due to slip and falls, being struck by an object, or electrocution. In addition, due to the heavy equipment needed to perform their duties, construction workers may face a higher risk of equipment-related accidents.

If your loved one was injured while on a construction site in Indianapolis, Indiana, you may be wondering what to do next. Even if your loved one’s employer doesn’t fulfill their workers’ compensation obligations, you have options. Speak with a qualified Indianapolis workers’ comp lawyer from Hensley Legal Group to find out what can be done.

Transportation

As we do more and more of our shopping online, truck drivers and other transportation workers are in higher demand. However, these jobs are not free of risks. In fact, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that the trucking and transportation industry sees a high rate of work-related fatalities.

If your family suffered due to a transportation work-related injury or death, you may be able to recover financial compensation for what you have suffered. At Hensley Legal Group, we represent all transportation workers to make sure they receive fair compensation. Contact our law firm today for your free Indianapolis workers’ comp consultation.

Healthcare

According to OSHA, hospitals are one of the most hazardous places to work. In a recent study, they found that 6.8 percent of all healthcare workers get injured on the job. This is a significantly higher statistic than in other industries.

Part of the reason that healthcare professionals face a higher risk of workplace accidents is due to what they are exposed to daily, which may include infectious diseases, hazardous materials, repetitive motions, manually lifting patients, and more. If you or your loved one was hurt due to a workplace incident while working in healthcare, you deserve justice for what you have suffered – a workers’ comp attorney can help.

Across all industries in Indianapolis, IN

Regardless of the industry you work in, your safety should be one of your employer’s priorities. Sadly, however, that is not always the case. Thousands of Hoosiers are injured every year in Indianapolis, requiring their employers to pay for their care.

Among the most common injuries seen in Indiana workers’ compensation claims are:

Concussions
Head and neck injuries
Burns
Electrical injuries
Fractures
Joint injuries
Vision or hearing loss
Traumatic brain injury
Loss of limbs or amputation
Wrongful death

If you or your loved one has experienced one of these life-altering injuries, you should not have to suffer without help. If your employer or his or her insurer fails to provide sufficient workers’ compensation benefits, you need to seek legal advice from a personal injury lawyer who knows workers’ compensation law inside and out.

Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim

Many employees are unsure about their rights in the event of an accident. Sometimes this is because they don’t fully understand exactly what workers’ compensation insurance is. While work comp may seem complicated, its purpose is simple.

Workers’ compensation is an accident insurance program paid for by your employer. It can provide you with medical care, rehabilitation, and income benefits if you are injured on the job.

The goal of Indianapolis workers’ comp is to help you return to work and provide for your family in the meantime. Nearly every Indiana employer is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. On the other hand, if you are an independent contractor instead of a regular employee, you may not be covered by this insurance.

Indiana differs from other states in that the law does not exclude most domestic workers from workers’ compensation claims. Additionally, mental injuries such as post-traumatic stress disorder and panic attacks may be coverable.

Indiana’s workers’ comp insurance program does not require you to prove that your injury was the fault of your employer.

When filing a workers’ compensation claim, you may wish to seek advice from an Indiana workers’ compensation lawyer to make sure that you receive all the benefits to which you are entitled. Hensley Legal Group has helped Indiana citizens in Indianapolis and across the state to receive the workers’ comp benefits they need from their employers. Contact our attorneys today for help with your case.

What to Do Immediately After a Workplace Injury

After a workplace accident, you need the help of an attorney so you know what to do next. Please see the following steps to give yourself the best chance of recovering the workers’ compensation benefits you need:

After an accident, you need to report it to your employer, boss, or supervisor immediately. Delaying could cost you your benefits. If you delay more than 30 days in reporting the incident, your claim may be denied. Even if your work injury initially seems minor, you should report it to your employer so that it goes on the record.
Next, you should seek medical treatment through the insurance company-approved doctors. Going outside of the insurance company parameters to get your own doctor may complicate your claim.
Remember that if the workers’ compensation insurance representatives ask you to sign anything related to your compensation claim, it’s a good idea to get an attorney to check it out first. That way you can be sure that you are getting the maximum amount of compensation for your injuries.
If the insurance company denies your claim, or your benefits are much lower than they should be, don’t despair. You can still receive the benefits you deserve with the help of our knowledgeable Indianapolis workers’ compensation lawyers.

If you follow these guidelines, you can vastly improve your chances of receiving compensation for your workplace injury claim. To improve your odds even more, you need help from workers’ compensation lawyers at a nationally accredited firm. At Hensley Legal Group, our lawyers have been recognized to be among the nation’s top 100 lawyers. Contact an attorney today for your free consultation at our Indianapolis, IN 46204, location.

What May Be Covered Under Indiana Workers’ Compensation Claims

By law, Indiana’s workers’ compensation claim requirements include coverage for all public and private employees. In the event of an injury, that insurance carried by your employer covers your lost wages and medical bills. The insurance carrier should pay the medical providers directly for your doctor’s appointments, hospital visits, and prescriptions. In some cases, your mileage costs to and from medical appointments may also be covered.

In the event that a workplace accident leaves you unable to do your job for a time, Indiana offers wage replacement according to the severity of your injury. There are four different kinds of wage replacements, known as disability benefits:

Temporary Total Disability Benefits (TTD) are provided when an employee is unable to work temporarily due to injury. In this case, the injured employee receives two-thirds of his or her pre-injury salary until returning to work.
Temporary Partial Disability Benefits (TPD) are provided to an injured employee even if he or she can work in some capacity after the accident but is unable to earn his or her previous wage. In that situation, TPD benefits are two-thirds of the difference between the current wage and the pre-injury wage. This coverage lasts for up to 300 weeks.
Permanent Total Disability Benefits (PTD) are provided when the employee’s injury makes it completely impossible for him or her to work again. The person may be paid two-thirds of his or her pre-injury average salary for a maximum of 500 weeks.
Permanent Partial Disability Benefits (PPD) are for when a worker is permanently incapacitated, such as in the loss of a finger or a limb. However, there are specific amounts of compensation depending on the exact injury. These injury-specific benefits calculate the number of weeks that the injured person may receive two-thirds of his or her previous weekly wage.

In addition to these four categories of workers’ compensation benefits, injured workers may be able to claim rehabilitation benefits, such as job placement assistance, work education, and on-the-job training. To know which of these benefits programs you are eligible for, it’s important to speak to Indianapolis workers’ compensation lawyers as soon as possible. An attorney can give you the best possible chance of getting what you need to move on with your life.

Why Your Claim Might Be Denied

Navigating workers’ compensation cases can seem overwhelming. Even the state’s “Guide to Indiana Workers’ Compensation” law is 66 pages long. After going through the long and arduous process, your claim may still be denied.

While some claims are straightforward, other employers’ insurance companies can deny your claim, thus making it much more difficult for you to get the compensation you need. Insurance companies may deny your claim in order to avoid paying out large benefits.

There are several common causes for claim denial in Indianapolis:

Employee’s pre-existing medical conditions
Lack of witnesses to the accident or injury
Failure to report the incident
Lag time between the accident and the report
Discrepancy between medical records and accident report
Claim filed after the worker was fired or laid off
Employee failed a drug test
Lack of medical evidence to support the claim

If your workers’ comp claim is denied for one of these reasons or another factor, that doesn’t mean that you’re out of options. Our lawyers know how the claim system operates and can help you get what you need from your employer.

Getting a lawyer to help you analyze your next steps after a workers’ comp denial is vital. An attorney can help you with the complex appeals process and can deal with the insurance company and the paperwork on your behalf, so you can focus on what’s really important – your recovery.

How Hensley Law Can Make a Difference For You

In recent years, Indiana’s rate of nonfatal workplace injuries has remained rather low, at only 3.3 percent of full-time workers. However, you never know when you will be the next one to sustain an injury on the job in Indianapolis. Accidents can happen anytime and may be devastating when resulting in costly medical bills and lost time from work. For this reason, Indiana requires employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance to help every employee recover as much as possible.

Even for lawyers, filing a workers’ comp claim or appeal is a lengthy, complex process. Many injured employees have found that hiring an Indianapolis workers’ compensation attorney is their only hope to navigate this claim system.

John Hensley and his excellent team of workers’ compensation attorneys believe in dedication, hard work, and commitment. We are determined to help you and thus invite you to consult with us about your legal options.

Whether you succeed or fail in your workers’ comp claim can have large repercussions for your future. The Indianapolis personal injury attorneys at Hensley Legal Group know that each case is unique, and we want to make a difference in your life. Find our contact form or call us today at (317) 526-1440 to schedule your free consultation, which can also be a home or virtual visit.