Connecticut Companies Have to Deal Fairly and Honestly with Your Workers’ Comp Claim; Don’t Settle for Less

By law, all companies in our state are required to carry Connecticut workers’ compensation insurance—not only in “dangerous” industries such as trucking and construction, but also relatively harmless white-collar professions such as banking and publishing.

Unfortunately, the time, energy, and money that a company can expend dealing with workers comp claims leads many managers to intimidate employees from filing a claim in the first place—at which point you need to secure expert legal representation from Connecticut workers’ compensation attorney (Link to Workers’ Comp PRACTICE AREA page) James A. Welcome

Workers’ Compensation is a Right, Not a Privilege, in the State of Connecticut

One common misconception about workers’ comp, which Connecticut employers are eager to promote, is that it’s somehow a “favor” granted by the state and federal government, and only in exceptional circumstances. The fact is, though, that every employee, no matter his residence status, has a right to file a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim if he has been injured on the job. A workers’ comp settlement will reimburse you, wholly or partially, for your medical bills, time spent away from work, and even any permanent disabilities you suffer.

Here are some circumstances in which you may be eligible to file a workers’ compensation claim:

• Repetitive stress. If you regularly do heavy lifting at work, and a back injury puts you out of action for weeks, workers’ comp can help with your medical bills and lost income.
• Accidents. Factories and construction sites are filled with swinging cranes, heavy loaders, and other types of specialized machinery that can inflict catastrophic damage on even the most seasoned workers.
• Mental stress. Certain professions (such as working as a prison guard) can take a heavy emotional toll. A “nervous breakdown” caused by job-related stress can be grounds for a workers comp claim.
• Death. If your spouse is killed in a work site accident, you may be eligible for a cash settlement, or even extended benefits, from the employer’s workers compensation insurance policy.

One important thing to remember is that it’s up to you, and your lawyer, to file a workers comp claim. No matter how much your manager guarantees that the company will “take care” of you, that’s no substitute for filling out the necessary paperwork yourself. Remember, it’s in your company’s best interest to dissuade you from filing a claim, since on-the-job accidents invite regulatory scrutiny and your employer’s insurance rates can go up as a result of multiple claims.

Have You Been Injured at a Connecticut Job Site? Contact James A. Welcome Today

If you have been injured on the job in Danbury or New Haven, and are facing thousands of dollars’ worth of hospital bills and an extended period of convalescence, you need a lawyer who will aggressively look out for your interests. James A. Welcome has years of experience pursuing workers comp claims for clients, no matter their type of job and no matter their immigration status.

James has written a free book,Ten Things Your Personal Injury Lawyer Should Be Doing in Your Case, and the American Trial Lawyers Association has named him one of the top 40 lawyers under 40.