Each day, employees go about performing everyday job tasks that, on the surface, wouldn’t appear to expose them to any harm, yet they get hurt unexpectedly or unsuspectingly develop an occupational disease. This is one of the reasons states like Wyoming require most employers to purchase workers’ compensation coverage. That insurance provides workers who are hurt on the job with an avenue for receiving compensated medical care and lost wage payouts if they’re hurt on the job in Cheyenne.
While securing the benefits you’re entitled to as a worker may be a straightforward process for some, it’s an unnecessarily challenging one for others. This is why it’s extremely beneficial to get a Cheyenne workers’ compensation lawyer involved from the moment you suffer serious injuries or develop a serious illness on the job.
Even though we can’t make any guarantees that you’ll receive any particular benefits, our Edwards Law Office, P.C., at the very least, promises to bring to the table our breadth of expertise in helping our clients submit successful workers’ comp claims in Wyoming to the table to assist you in accomplishing the same. So, if you want skilled guidance in filing for these workplace benefits, reach out to our law office for a free consultation with one of our attorneys today.
Common Workplace Accidents That Cause Serious Injuries
Since our office’s founding, we’ve assisted clients who’ve suffered harm in many varied ways. However, some types of accidents seem to repeat themselves more than others, such as:
- Vehicle-involved incidents, which is a catchall category for automobile accidents as well as ones involving forklifts and heavy equipment like excavators
- Fires, especially on oil and gas extraction sites
- Slips and falls, often from significant heights on construction sites
That’s not to say that other accidents that cause anywhere from relatively temporarily disabling, yet recoverable injuries to life-altering, permanent impairments don’t occur. However, the ones listed above seem to affect the clients who come to us seeking help the most. We encourage you to reach out to us no matter how you suffered your injuries so we can help you understand your compensation options.
Injuries the WY Employees We Help Suffered
Much like the ways in which the workers we help are quite varied, so too are the injuries they suffer. The following are, unfortunately, commonplace:
- Loss of limb
- Back and neck injuries
- Broken bones
- Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Toxic substance inhalation leading to neurologic or respiratory illnesses
- Burns
No matter whether you’ve suffered one of the injuries above or something different, you likely qualify to receive benefits. However, a Cheyenne workers’ compensation lawyer can help you verify for sure that you are due and advise you of the next steps you’ll want to take to gain access to your employer’s coverage.
Compensation You May Be Able To Recover If Hurt on the Job
Workers’ comp in itself is intended to provide covered workers hurt on the job with compensated medical care and at least partial lost wage payouts while they’re unable to work their regular schedule. However, recovering from some injuries may be a long game, in which case, you may find it helpful to know that some of the following benefits exist:
- Temporary partial disability (TPD)
- Permanent partial disability (PPD)
- Temporary total disability (TTD)
- Permanent total disability (PTD)
Also, should you be unable to return to your prior occupation, vocational rehabilitation benefits may be available to you.
It’s also worth noting, given how, per the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, 34 workers lost their lives on the job in our state in 2022, that death and funeral benefits may be available to surviving family members after the workplace death of their relative.
How Can a Cheyenne Workers’ Compensation Attorney Help Me?
As with filing most civil legal cases, there’s no explicit requirement to have an attorney assist you in filing a claim or to assist you should you need to make an appeal. However, it can be extremely helpful to have a workers’ comp lawyer in Cheyenne involved to:
- Advise you whether you indeed qualify for benefits, especially if your employer tells you that you don’t
- Help you navigate what to do if you’re told you don’t qualify for workers’ comp coverage or if your employer is less-than-forthcoming in helping you with the next steps you should take
- Understand what other compensation options may be available to you beyond a workers’ compensation claim, including filing a third-party injury lawsuit
- Assist you if your employer commands you to return to work, payments suddenly stop, or your employer’s workers’ comp insurer denies your claim
There are many other scenarios that can happen that may make having an attorney well-versed in handling cases like yours accessible to you.
Get Sound Guidance in Your Wyoming Workers’ Comp Case
When you’ve suffered serious injuries or your loved one was suddenly taken from you in a workplace accident, the last thing you need to do is engage in potentially stressful conversations with an employer or insurer playing hardball. This is where a Cheyenne workers’ compensation lawyer can take some pressure off your shoulders.
Contact us for help in navigating the workers’ compensation system in Wyoming after your workplace injury or onset of a work-related illness. Our work together will begin with a free consultation during which we’ll look to better understand how your injuries occurred. And, if you hire us at Edwards Law Office, P.C. to represent you, you can count on us to be there to help you navigate the system, no matter where it leads you, every step of the way until your case’s conclusion.