What does a workers’ compensation lawyer need to know?

When you first meet with a workers’ compensation lawyer, there is certain information that the lawyer will want to know about you, including how the accident occurred and your injuries, which will help them assess your case. Providing a lawyer with this information allows the attorney to offer you better advice and will help them evaluate the strength of your case and the type and amount of benefits that you may be entitled to.

Generally, the information that a workers’ compensation lawyer will want to know falls into three main categories.

Information about you and your job

When you meet with a workers’ comp lawyer for the first time, they will ask you questions about yourself and your job. Some of the questions you should be prepared to answer include the following:

• What is your current job?
• What are your job duties?
• How long have you worked for your employer?
• How long have you worked in your current position?
• What is your hourly wage or salary?

Information about the accident

A workers’ comp lawyer will also want to know about the accident that resulted in your injuries. This is important for a few reasons. First, it will help them determine if the accident fell within the workers’ compensation laws’ scope. Generally, workers’ compensation only covers job-related injuries and occupational illnesses. Thus, if you were injured in a car accident on the way to work, you may not qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. However, this type of accident raises the possibility of other types of claims, such as a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent motorist who caused the accident.

Some of the questions your workers’ compensation lawyer may ask you are:

• Can you describe the accident in your own words?
• What / Who do you think was responsible for the accident?
• Did anyone else witness the accident?
• Were you “on the clock” when you were injured?
• Did you report the accident to your employer?
• If so, who did you first tell about the accident?
• Do you have any photographs of your injuries?
• Do you have any pictures of the accident scene?
• Did your employer complete an accident report?
• Did your employer open up a workers’ compensation claim on your behalf?

Information about the medical treatment you received

A workers’ compensation lawyer will ask you about the medical treatment you received in relation to your workplace accident. This will help them determine the amount of benefits you may recover if your claim is approved. Some of the common questions you may be asked include:

• Where did you get medical treatment? Was this an authorized workers’ comp authorized facility/doctor?
• Have you been to any follow-up doctor’s appointments authorized by workers’ comp?
• Did a physician provide you with a diagnosis?
• Do you have copies of your medical records?
• Have you received any medical bills yet?
• Do you have any pre-existing conditions that were made worse by the accident?

Of course, you may not have all of this information; however, your lawyer will be able to help you locate any missing information.

Other Workers’ Compensation FAQs:

• Am I Allowed to Choose My Doctors For My Workplace Injury in New Jersey?
• Am I Eligible For Workers’ Compensation If I Am Hurt While Working From Home in New Jersey?
• Are Longshore Workers Eligible For Workers’ Compensation in New Jersey?
• Are Minors Entitled to Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
• Are Minors Injured in a Work-Related Accident Eligible to Receive Workers’ Compensation Benefits in New Jersey?
• Are Workers’ Compensation Benefits Taxable?
• Can A Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Help Me Obtain Benefits and A Settlement Award?
• Can an Employer Fire an Employee for Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim In New Jersey?
• Can CNAs or RNs Attacked by Patients Receive Workers’ Comp Benefits For Their Injuries?
• Can I Choose My Doctor For My Workers’ Compensation Claim in New Jersey?
• Can I File a Third-Party Lawsuit For My New Jersey Workplace Injury?
• Can I Get Workers’ Compensation When A Coworker Assaults Me?
• Can I Receive Workers’ Compensation For A Gradual, Repetitive Use Injury?
• Can I Reopen My Workers’ Compensation Case?
• Do I Need A Doctor’s Approval to Return to Work?
• How Does a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Get Paid If the Injured Worker Is Totally Disabled in New Jersey?
• How Does A Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Get Paid?
• How Much Do Workers’ Compensation Lawyers charge in New Jersey?
• How Much Does a Lawyer Make Off of a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
• How Much Does a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Charge in New Jersey?
• I Was Terminated While Out of Work Due to an On-the Job Injury; What Are My Rights?
• If My Spouse or Parent Dies Due to a Work-Related Injury or Illness in New Jersey, Am I Entitled to Any Death Benefits?
• Is My Injury Considered A Permanent Partial Disability?
• Since I Cannot Perform the Job I Did Before the Injury, Can I Return to Work in a Different Capacity, and How Would That Impact Future Compensation?
• The Workers’ Compensation Doctor Has Released Me For Light Duty Work, But My Employer Told Ne There Is No Light Duty Work Available. What Should I Do?
• What Do I Do If I Get into a New Jersey Car Accident While Working?
• What Does A Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Do For You?
• What Does A Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Do?
• What Does A Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Need to Know?
• What Does AWW Mean Under Workers’ Comp? (Average Weekly Wage)
• What Does FCE Mean Under Workers’ Comp? (Functional Capacity Evaluation)
• What Does IME Mean in Workers’ Comp? (Independent Medical Examination)
• What Does MMI Mean in Workers’ Comp? (Maximum Medical Improvement)
• What Does PPD Mean in Workers’ Comp? (Permanent Partial Disability)
• What Does TTD Mean in Workers’ Comp? (Temporary Total Disability)
• What Happens When Using A Lawyer For A Workers’ Compensation Claim?
• What Happens When You Get A Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?
• What Is A Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?
• What Kind of Information Does A Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Need From You?
• What Should I Do If My Employer Refuses to Open Up a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
• What To Do If Your Employer Will Not Report Your New Jersey Accident to the Workers’ Compensation Carrier?
• What to Expect in Your Free Consultation with a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?
• What Type of Documents Do I Need to Sign to Allow My Workers’ Compensation Lawyer to Accept My Settlement?
• What Will A New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Attorney Do For Me?
• What Workers’ Comp Benefits Can I Receive If I’m Unable to Work or Return to Work?
• When Do I Need A New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?
• When Do Workers’ Compensation Payments Stop?
• When To Get A Lawyer For TBI Workers’ Compensation?
• When To Get A Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?
• While I Was Out of Work as a Result of a Work-Related Injury My Employer Terminated Me. Is This Legal?
• Why Do I Need a Lawyer to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
• Why Do I Need A Lawyer to File For New Jersey Workers’ Compensation?
• Why Should I Have A Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?