Do I Need a Tennessee Workers' Comp Lawyer?

By Tennessee state law, an injured individual is permitted to represent him or herself in a workers' compensation case, just as in any other Tennessee legal proceeding. However, anyone involved in a Tennessee workers' compensation lawsuit or attempting to negotiate an out-of-court settlement should have a thorough knowledge of workers' compensation law and the Rules of Evidence.

Moreover, Tennessee employers and their insurance companies are typically represented by competent, well-paid lawyers who try to defeat the claim or at least minimize the dollar amount of compensation an injured worker will receive. Also, Tennessee law contains time limits for reporting an injury or disease to the employer and for filing a complaint for benefits (called "statute of limitations"). If a workplace injury is not reported in time, or if the claim is not filed within the applicable statute of limitations, the injured Tennessee worker can lose his or her right to receive any compensation for work injuries. Yet, despite this unfairness, Tennessee employers have no legal obligation to advise their injured employees of these workers' compensation time limits.

For these reasons, it is vital to work with an experienced Tennessee attorney familiar with the Tennessee guidelines for permanent impairment assessment and with those physicians that workers' compensation insurance companies in Tennessee use. A physician who gives a low impairment will directly affect the value of your case. As such you need a workers' compensation lawyer who will recognize a low impairment and can arrange a second opinion with another doctor.

Injured Tennessee workers benefit from representation if any of the following situations apply to your injury:

1. The workplace injury is serious and will result in extensive disability;
2. The workplace injury or its disability has been denied by the insurance carrier;
3. The disability has lasted for an extended duration (around 90 days) without any definite release to the normal occupation and customary job duties;
4. Significant residual permanent partial disability exists, even though there is a return to normal occupation and customary job duties;
5. You have received an offer of settlement but are not sure if it is fair; or
6. any other situation where a Tennessee worker was injured on the job and feels overwhelmed by the compensation system.

If any of the above applies to you, even if you have already received an offer of settlement, please feel free to call our Tennessee law offices. We will be glad to give you an opinion on your case.

To learn more, contact our Nashville law offices online or call us at 800-705-2121.