Golden, CO Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
We are west Golden Colorado’s TOP workers’ compensation law firm. The attorneys at The Frickey Law Firm focus in workplace accident and injuries. We have been representing Colorado workers for over 50 years, we have a proven track record and we get results.
When you have been injured on the job, you expect that the workers’ compensation insurance that your employer has provided will take care of you. However, that is not always the case. Legitimate injuries are often denied by the insurance carriers for bogus reasons.
Even admitted injuries are usually under paid by the insurance carrier. Don’t fall for the insurance companies’ tricks. Contact a workers’ comp attorney in Colorado to protect your legal rights and make sure that you maximize your benefits and get what you are entitled through the Colorado Workers’ Compensation Act. You do not pay a fee unless we get you compensation.
You can count on The Frickey Law Firm to be there for you in your time of need. Attorney Janet Frickey and her team believe in standing up for the rights of people when insurance companies try to compromise them. We have been in the business of helping people since 1958, and we will work hard for you. We know Colorado law and focus in workplace injuries.
Contact The Frickey Law Firm regarding your work injury claim either through our website or by calling us today at 303-237-7373.
Recent Review:
“Thank you Eric, Leigh, and everyone else at The Frickey Law Firm who helped with my case! The Frickey Law Firm made my personal injury case as manageable and stress free as possible. They navigated getting me the medical care I needed and all communication with the insurance companies so all I had to do was focus on healing my body. They made sure I received all the care I needed and checked in regularly. Hiring them was always about ensuring that I could get my car fixed and get the medical attention I needed after my accident, but they also got me a good little settlement too. Thank you again for making this stressful process MUCH easier. 10/10 recommend!”
The Frickey Law Firm is located at 940 Wadsworth Blvd # 400, Lakewood, CO 80214,right off 6th ave and Wadsworth. Call us today at 303-237-7373 to learn how we can help you.
Work Injuries That Could Make You Eligible for Benefits
You can qualify for workers’ compensation benefits when you have suffered a job-related injury. Even if the injury is your fault, you are still entitled to workers compensation benefits. In many cases, your injury has occurred in an accident. In other cases, the cumulative effects of your job have resulted in an overuse injury. You can even be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits for things such as mental health conditions that result from your work or job-related illnesses.
Insurance companies try and settle workers compensation cases for a fraction of their true value. If you have been injured at work, get a lawyer who specializes in this area of the law. A competent workers compensation attorney can build your case to prove your case and your injuries and make sure that you get the money and benefits that you are legally entitled for your injuries. Dont go at it alone.
How to Claim Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Colorado
There are numerous steps to the workers’ compensation claims process and some potentially tight timelines that you need to meet.
- You have ten working days after you have been injured to notify your employer in writing
- You need to see a doctor chosen from a list provided by your employer to have your injuries diagnosed. If the insurance company and employer does not provide you with a verifiable physician list timely and consistent with the law, you may be able to choose your own provider to treat with.
- You would gather documentation that could prove you suffered a job-related injury
- You would file a form WC-15 with the Colorado Division of Workers’ Compensation
- The state would forward the claim to the insurance company, which would then make a decision on whether to grant benefits
- If your claim is denied, you would be forced to file an application for hearing to prove you were injured at work and are entitled to benefits.
Know Your Rights
- You are not obligated to give a record statement to the insurance company regarding the accident.
- You are not obligated to give the insurance company unrestricted medical release to your medical history. Insurance companies use this information to try and deny or minimize your claim.
- Just because you have prior conditions or prior accidents does not mean that you are not covered. In Colorado, an aggravation of a pre-existing injury is a compensable injury and you are entitled to benefits.
- If your case is denied, don’t give up. Insurance companies routinely deny legitimate claim in the hopes that you will just go away.
- Get a lawyer, don’t think that the insurance company will treat you fairly. The adjusters job is to get you through medical treatment as quick as possible and get the case settled for the least amount possible. Don’t fall for this, get an attorney.
What Are the Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
In addition to coverage for reasonable and necessary Medical expenses and treatment, you would also be entitled to lost wages that you were earning before your injury. there are four types of benefits that could replace your lost wages:
- Temporary Total Disability: The injured worker is completely unable to work on a temporary basis, and they would receive two-thirds of their GROSS lost wages
- Temporary Partial Disability: The injured employee is able to return to work, but they are not yet able to perform full work duties. They would receive two-thirds of the difference between what they were earning pre-injury and what their reduced earnings are now
- Permanent Total Disability: The injured worker is permanently and totally disabled and can no longer work. In these cases if found permanently and totally disabled, you are entitled to your lost wages for the rest of your life.
- Permanent Partial Disability: The worker has permanent impairment as a result of their injury. Permanent impairment entitles you to a money award for your impairment. Workers compensation doctors often minimize your true impairment related to your accident and injury, this directly affects your compensation and how much money your case is actually worth. However, there are ways to get this impairment rating increased and get an independent doctor to evaluate your true impairment.
Common Issues in a Workers’ Compensation Claim
While many injured employers are able to successfully file a claim for workers’ compensation and receive the benefits, They may not understand the true value of their claim. There is an insurance company involved in the process who provides coverage to your employer. They are the ones who are making the determination about whether you can receive benefits and what medical care to cover. They also actively try and push you through the system and settle the case for a fraction of its true value.
When you file a workers’ compensation claim, or you are already receiving benefits, there are a number of challenges that you may face, including:
- Your initial claim may be denied by the insurance company, and you could be forced to file a workers’ compensation application for hearing to prove you were injured at work.
- You may be told that you need to go back to work after an independent medical examination when you do not believe that you are physically ready
- The doctor may assign you a lower disability percentage than you think you deserve or may not be given you the treatment that you need to recover
- The insurance company may refuse to cover certain necessary medical care
- You may need to negotiate a workers’ compensation settlement when you are permanently disabled
- The insurance may not be paying you correctly or paying you certain benefits that you are entitled by law
Hiring a workers’ compensation attorney is the best way for you to address these challenges. Then, you would not have to try to navigate a complicated system on your own. Get a lawyer, there is no fee unless we win. Make sure you get what you are legally entitled and do not settle your case before you talk to a lawyer who specializes in workers compensation.
Contact a Golden, CO Workers’ Compensation Law Firm Today
If you have been injured on the job, you are legally entitled to benefits and potentially a settlement. Find out what your case is worth and if you are being treated fairly. Reach out to a workers’ compensation lawyer at the Frickey Law Firm to discuss your case either through our website or by calling us today at 303-237-7373. The call is free.