When you’re hurt on the job in Aurora, workers’ compensation is supposed to cover your medical care and part of your lost wages, but getting the benefits you’re owed isn’t always as simple as it should be. Claims get delayed, disputed, and denied, often when injured workers need help the most. Meanwhile, the bills don’t stop just because your paycheck did. An experienced Aurora workers’ compensation lawyer can protect your rights, push back against unfair denials, and fight for every benefit you’re entitled to under Colorado law.
Why Injured Workers Choose Ridder Law
Most people going through a workers’ compensation claim have never dealt with the system before, and this is a time where they need to be careful not to be taken advantage of by the insurance company. Injured workers hire Ridder Law because the firm handles these cases with the attention they actually require. Our Aurora personal injury lawyers offer:
- Fourteen years of experience representing injured people in Colorado
- More than $50 million recovered for clients through settlements and judgments
- Personal access to your lawyer at every stage, rather than being handed off to a paralegal after the first meeting
If your claim has been denied or you suspect you’re being treated unfairly, call Ridder Law to have your case reviewed before you accept anything.
When Is It Worth Hiring a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Aurora?
Hiring a lawyer is often a very worthwhile choice when you’re injured at work. Problems tend to show up when the injury is serious or the insurer starts looking for ways to limit what it pays. Signs it’s time to get an Aurora workers’ compensation lawyer involved include:
- Your claim was denied, or the insurer is disputing whether your injury happened at work
- Your benefit checks are late, reduced, or cut off before your doctor says you can return to work
- The insurance company is pushing you toward a settlement and you have no idea if the number is fair
- Your injury involves permanent impairment, surgery, or long-term treatment
- Your employer retaliated after you filed, whether through a demotion, cut hours, or termination
A workers’ comp attorney in Aurora can handle the disputes, the paperwork, and the hearings while you concentrate on getting back to work safely. If any of this sounds familiar, call Ridder Law for a free case review.
What Is Workers’ Compensation in Colorado?
Workers’ compensation is Colorado’s insurance system for employees who get hurt or sick because of their jobs, and most employers in the state are required to carry it. When it works the way it should, an injured worker reports the injury, receives medical care paid for by the insurer, and collects partial wage replacement while unable to work.
Workers generally do not have to prove their employer did anything wrong to receive benefits. The injury or occupational illness must arise out of the job and happen in the course of employment, but fault is usually not part of the equation. Workers also are not able to collect pain and suffering damages, and they only get partial wage replacement, not everything they lost.
What Types of Workplace Injuries Can Lead to a Claim?
Almost any injury connected to your job can support a claim, not just the dramatic accidents people picture. Common examples include:
- Back, neck, and shoulder injuries from lifting or repetitive strain
- Falls from ladders, scaffolding, or slippery surfaces
- Injuries from machinery and equipment
- Vehicle accidents while driving for work
- Burns, chemical exposure, and electrocution
- Repetitive stress conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome
- Hearing loss from prolonged noise exposure
- Occupational illnesses that develop over time
The injury doesn’t have to happen on your employer’s property. A delivery driver hurt in traffic or an employee injured at an off-site job assignment may still be covered if the injury arose out of and occurred in the course of employment.
What Workers’ Compensation Benefits May Be Available?
The benefits available in a Colorado claim depend on the nature and severity of the injury. They may include:
- Authorized medical treatment: The insurer pays for reasonable and necessary care related to the work injury, though treatment generally must come from an authorized provider.
- Temporary disability benefits: These benefits provide partial wage replacement when your injury keeps you from working entirely, or limits you to reduced hours or duties, while you recover.
- Permanent disability benefits: You may receive this compensation when an injury leaves lasting impairment after your condition has stabilized and is no longer getting any better.
- Death benefits: Payments to qualifying surviving family members when a work injury or illness is fatal. Call our experienced Aurora wrongful death attorney to get legal guidance during this difficult time.
The exact types of benefits you may receive depends on the injury and prognosis.
Deadlines For Workers’ Compensation Claims in Colorado
You should give your employer written notice of the injury as soon as possible. Colorado law generally requires written notice within 10 working days.
Reporting the injury to your employer is not the same as filing a formal workers’ compensation claim. In most cases, a claim must be filed with the Colorado Division of Workers’ Compensation within two years of the injury. In limited circumstances, a claim filed within three years may still be allowed if there is a reasonable excuse for the delay and the employer was not prejudiced.
The best thing you can do is report the injury in writing immediately, keep a copy, and don’t assume your employer’s report to their insurer counts as your formal claim, because it doesn’t. If you’re unsure where your claim stands or what the deadline is, a workers’ compensation lawyer can help.
Schedule a Consultation With an Aurora Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
You shouldn’t have to fight your employer’s insurance company while you’re trying to recover from a workplace injury. Whether your claim has been denied, your benefits were cut off early, or you’re just not sure what you’re entitled to, having a lawyer in your corner levels the playing field. Workers’ compensation cases are full of deadlines and technicalities, so the sooner you get guidance, the better. Contact an Aurora workers’ compensation lawyer today for a free consultation.