Where Can I Find the Best Workers Lawyer in Washington DC?

You probably already know that a Morgan & Morgan workers compensation attorney can help with your claim, but to what extent? 

Gathering Evidence for your claim

Regardless of the lawsuit, the only way to win is to convince the court that the defendant is responsible for your pain and suffering. Unfortunately, this isn't usually an easy thing to do because what you consider as evidence may not be 'convincing enough' to the court or the other party if you opt for an out-of-court settlement. 

On the other hand, working with a workers' compensation attorney from Morgan & Morgan is the beginning of endless possibilities. Such an attorney can help collect crucial and sufficient evidence to present to the defendant or judge in court during litigation. 

An attorney's role is not limited to gathering evidence, though. Other roles executed by a workers compensation attorney when building a strong case against the defendant include: 

• arranging or recommending treatment for victims.
• collecting medical records.
• representing their clients during a deposition.
• obtaining medical opinions from experts or an independent medical examination. 
• gathering testimonies and interviewing witnesses.

And so much more. 

Negotiating a Settlement Agreement

Negotiating a settlement is the second-most important part of a workers compensation claim; the first is proving that the defendant is guilty, as discussed above. 

Morgan & Morgan attorneys consider every possible detail when calculating the settlement you deserve. However, since each case is usually different, it's impossible to tell what the defendant owes you before evaluating your case. 

This is the main reason Morgan & Morgan offers a free, no-obligation case evaluation. 

Typically, some of the main factors a worker's compensation attorney considers when negotiating a settlement include: 

• the extent of injury. 
• limitations resulting from the injury. 
• any lasting impairments resulting from the injury, for example, a permanent disability.
• lost wages and other expenses resulting from the injury. 

Representing Their Clients in Court

Negotiating a settlement with an insurance claims adjuster is usually tricky. The defendant will try everything to avoid being held responsible for your pain and suffering even when they know they are at fault. 

Such a claim usually goes to court when both parties can't reach an agreement. A judge will then listen to both sides, evaluate evidence, review witnesses' statements before the ruling.

The fact that the claim has been submitted to court won't necessarily stop the other party from trying all they can to avoid responsibility. Instead, they'll use every legal means possible to undermine your pain and suffering. 

Many clients lose such cases when they choose to represent themselves in court. Aside from the legal jargon during these hearings, it's usually very easy for lawyers representing the other party to turn the case around in favor of their clients. 

This explains why it's never advisable to enter into a negotiation for settlement without a lawyer, even if the other party accepts responsibility for your injury. Chances are they won't pay you what you deserve, especially when they know you don't have an attorney to fight for your rights. 

Additionally, suppose the court rules against you. In that case, a worker's lawyer can also help you appeal the court's decision.

Suing Outside of Workers' Compensation Parameters

Did you know that you can actually sue your employer outside of the workers' compensation parameters? Here's why. 

Just because your claim falls under workers' compensation doesn't mean that's all you can sue the other party for. On the contrary, you can sue for different scenarios, and it takes a good workers' compensation attorney to realize that. 

Here are some great examples of situations that require more than a workers' compensation lawsuit. 

• You might be able to sue a product manufacturer if you were injured by a defective product. To increase your chances of winning such a lawsuit, you would need a defective product liability lawyer. 
• You might also bring a personal injury lawsuit against a third party if they were responsible for your injuries. This also includes a lawsuit against your employer if you were injured due to their intentional conduct. 
• If injured by a toxic product, you might be able to bring a toxic emissions lawsuit against the party responsible for your injuries.

The list of options is endless, and the best part of it is that Morgan & Morgan attorneys will help evaluate your options before deciding the best path to take. The goal is to ensure you receive full compensation for your damages; that's not something you can be sure of if you represent yourself or work with an inexperienced attorney. 

Sometimes, it's even possible to take both paths to maximize your compensation. 

For example, suppose you've been injured at work while operating a particular machine, and the injury prevents you from working, perhaps due to a permanent disability or any other medical reason. 

In that case, you might be able to file a workers' compensation lawsuit against your employer and a products liability suit against the manufacturer of the product if you have reason to believe they are responsible for your injuries.

The answer is simple: you need an attorney immediately when you realize that you have a workers' compensation claim against your employer. Even if you are unsure whether the other party is responsible for your damages, you still need to contact Morgan & Morgan for a free case evaluation.

That's what a case evaluation is all about - it establishes whether you have a solid reason to sue the other party. If you don't, our attorneys will advise you on the best way forward. This approach is way better than facing the other party in or out of court without legal representation because chances are they'll have a lawyer already representing them. 

Remember, you don't even need to have much evidence to support your claim. A worker's compensation attorney will help you collect the evidence you need to convince the court that the other party is responsible for your pain and suffering. And you'll be surprised to discover the lengths Morgan & Morgan attorneys can go collect evidence against the other party. From surveillance footage, interviewing witnesses, to recording statements, there's no limit when it comes to fighting for your rights. 

Also, contacting a workers' compensation lawyer is highly recommended if you've suffered severe, long-term injuries. For instance, if you've been paralyzed due to the injury, chances are you'll no longer be able to go to work or fulfill some responsibilities for the rest of your life. 

This means that you deserve to be compensated for the wages you would have earned throughout your entire working period had it not been for the injury. And that's not the only reason you deserve a lot more compensation - the list varies depending on the nature of your injury. 

Insurance companies will attempt to lure you into accepting an unreasonable settlement when it comes to such claims. They do this because they are aware that if such a lawsuit goes to court or if you have a fierce law firm like Morgan & Morgan representing you, chances are they'll have to pay more than what was initially offered. 

To put this into perspective, Morgan & Morgan workers' compensation attorneys can help you negotiate up to 20 times more than the initial offer! 

Suppose your claim has been denied, and you need to appeal. In that case, hiring a workers' comp attorney is a wise decision. Such an attorney will review your case, establish the reasons for rejection, and then develop a better strategy to convince the court that the other party is responsible for your pain.

A claims adjuster evaluates a claim to determine how much an insurance company should pay for the damages. So if you've been injured at the workplace, chances are you'll need to talk to a claims adjuster representing the insurance company.

For this reason, it's very important to understand the things you can and can't say during the interview. Remember, claims adjusters will take notes of the discussion, review the evidence and then use that information to determine how much the insurance company owes you. 

In the process, the claims adjuster might significantly reduce the value of your case based on the information you've provided. And in some cases, the entire claim could be thrown out. 

Things to Say to a Workers Compensation Claims Adjuster

It's important to stick to the basic facts and avoid going into too much detail. This is because claims adjusters can use your words against you and significantly reduce the value of your claim. 

So what are the basics? Think of things like:

• the time and date of the injury.
• the type of accident.
• the location of the injury.
• the part of the body subjected to the injury.

It's also important to be as inclusive as possible when describing your injuries. Insurance companies will only pay for injuries they were made aware of, that's if they are guilty in the first place. So if you leave out a particular injury or believe it's too insignificant to be included in the claim, you could lose thousands of money in compensation.

For instance, if you suffered head injuries and experienced neck pains resulting from the injury, leaving out the neck pain means the insurance company won't be responsible for treating that particular injury. You'll realize the true value of such information when the neck pain develops into something more severe, requiring more money to treat. 

It's also not advisable to hide your pre-existing conditions. Contrary to popular opinion, insurance companies will still be required to pay for injuries that aggravate a pre-existing condition. On the other hand, hiding your pre-existing conditions could also give the insurance company reason to believe that you're not credible, which could be used against you to dismiss the entire claim. 

Things NOT to Say to a Workers Compensation Claims Adjuster

• Do not allow the claims adjuster to record your conversation; they can use that against you to dismiss the claim. 
• Avoid out-of-topic conversations with the adjuster; you may end up saying things that could be used against you when negotiating the settlement.
• Do not sign any documents or agree to any settlement offer; accepting settlement means closing the case. 
• Avoid answering questions about your family or financial situation; they may use this information to propose a lowball settlement.

In Washington D.C., the statute of limitations for filing a workers' compensation claim is one year from the date of the injury or the date when the plaintiff discovered that the injury was related to a particular incident at the workplace. 

So if you live in Washington D.C. and have suffered an injury at your workplace, contact Morgan & Morgan D.C. office at (202) 772-0560 to schedule a free case evaluation. Alternatively, you can submit your case details online, and one of the company's representatives will get in touch with you within 24 hours.