New Britain Workers' Compensation Attorney
Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that most employers in New Britain and across Connecticut are required to carry to protect their employees who are hurt or become ill at work.
Connecticut’s workers’ compensation system is designed to help qualified employees who suffer a work-related injury or occupational illness by providing them with payment of their medical bills and partial replacement of lost wages if they are unable to work.
While workers’ compensation benefits are available to most employees, it is not uncommon for injured people to be unsure of their rights and how to go about getting full benefits. They may find the process complicated and the insurance company may try to underpay them or outright reject a valid claim. That’s why it is so important to hire a qualified worker’s compensation attorney to help you with your claim.
If you’ve been hurt in a workplace accident in New Britain, turn to the firm that so many workers have trusted to help them with their workers’ comp claims. The Kocian Law Group has earned a reputation for honesty and compassionate representation. We know how to get results.
Our team is ready to speak with you about your workers’ compensation claim. Call us today to schedule your free consultation.
Process for Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim in New Britain
A typical undisputed claim for workers’ compensation in New Britain generally follows the five-step process outlined below:
- Step 1: If you’ve been hurt in an accident at work or if you’ve become ill due to workplace conditions, immediately report it to your employer. Seek initial medical treatment from an employer-designated doctor, and then file a notice of claim for compensation.
- Step 2: Next, choose a treating physician and continue to get medical treatment. During this phase, you will be required to provide your employer with information about your treatment and recovery.
- Step 3: If you are totally incapacitated, you may sign a voluntary agreement for disability benefits.
- Step 4: As you begin to recover and are capable of engaging in light duties, you might be assigned to restricted work from your employer.
- Step 5: When you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI), there will be an assessment concerning whether you are entitled to continuing benefits.
How Our New Britain Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Can Help
The steps outlined above illustrate what the process typically looks like for filing an undisputed workers’ compensation claim in Connecticut. But what happens if the claim is disputed? What happens if your benefits are too low? In a nutshell, the process then becomes much more drawn out and complex.
If this happens, the help of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney becomes very valuable. Having someone who knows your rights inside and out and who can guide you through this process, all the while advocating on your behalf, can make the difference.
Our attorneys are prepared to review your case and fight for your rights if you’ve wrongfully been denied benefits. We can also stand up for you if another dispute arises, such as if your employer wants you to go back to work but you aren’t ready. Even if you are receiving benefits, let us review them for free to see if you might be entitled to more.
What Do Workers’ Comp Benefits Cover?
Workers’ compensation benefits are designed to reimburse an injured or ill employee for:
- All related medical expenses
- Wages lost out due to the injury or illness
Our local workers’ compensation lawyer will be able to walk you through the complex analysis that is necessary to determine precisely how much an eligible employee can recover through the workers’ compensation system. The following types of workers’ comp benefits are available in Connecticut when applicable:
- Medical treatment
- Temporary total disability
- Temporary partial disability
- Permanent partial disability
- Relapse or recurrence
- Discretionary benefits
- Job retraining
Time Limits for Workers’ Compensation Claims in New Britain
If you’ve suffered a workplace injury or occupational illness in New Britain, you should file a written notice of claim for workers’ compensation (form 30C) as soon as possible in order to best protect your right to benefits.
Promptly filing this notice of claim form is important because Connecticut has a statute of limitations that prevents workers’ compensation claims from being filed more than one year after the day on which the injury at issue occurred, or three years after the first symptom of an occupational illness manifests itself.
Contact our lawyers as soon as possible to make sure you don’t miss out on benefits.
What to Do After a Workplace Accident in New Britain
Anyone who is injured in a workplace accident in Connecticut should report the incident to their employer as soon as possible. This is important for a number of reasons. First, it is a required step that must be taken if the injured employee wishes the file for workers’ compensation. Second, it may enable the employer to initiate changes that will make the workplace safer.
If emergency treatment was not required, the injured employee should seek the necessary medical treatment. The employee may be required to later submit to medical treatment from a physician designated by the employer. Injured workers should carefully document their recovery as well as keep a detailed record noting which physician they visited on which date, what was discussed, and which medications and treatments were prescribed.
To file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits, the injured worker must properly and timely file a notice of claim for compensation (Form 30C) with both their employer as well as the Workers’ Compensation Commission District Office.
Talk to Our New Britain Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Now
The Kocian Law Group’s team of experienced New Britain workers’ compensation lawyers are here to answer any questions that you may have about filing a workers’ compensation claim in Connecticut. We are ready to sit down with you during a free initial consultation to discuss your legal rights and options.
If you’ve been injured in a work-related accident or suffered an occupational illness, please keep in mind that you only have a limited amount of time to file a claim. It is in your best interest to reach out to our law firm as soon as possible. Give our New Britain office a call and schedule a consultation with us today.