Accidents are very common in places of work. Injuries at work may include a back injury from lifting too heavy objects, a broken arm from a fall off a ladder, etc. In such cases, a workers’ compensation lawyer can help such workers with various injuries to get compensated for their injuries, which includes lost wages and medical bills.

A list of compensation lawyers in Perth can help you get the kind of compensation that you deserve. The following are some of the benefits that workers can get depending on the type of injury.

• Permanent total disability
• Permanent partial disability benefits
• Temporary partial disability benefits
• Medical benefits
• Wage reimbursement benefits
• Vocational rehabilitation benefits

Duties of a compensation lawyer

Overarching Duties

The primary goal of a workers’ compensation lawyer in representing the injured worker [claimant] is to help him/her to obtain his or her benefits. And when the workers’ compensation lawyer represents the employer [defendant] he needs to mitigate the defendant’s liability. The duties of a worker’ compensation lawyer includes:

• Obtain depositions of the claimant, physicians, medical experts, etc.
• Gather medical evidence and medical reports
• Perform legal research
• Remain updated with the developments in the law
• Draft pleadings, motions, briefs, opinions, etc.
• Litigate the case before a workers’ compensation judge or referee.

Claimants Duties

On the claimant side, the workers’ compensation lawyer assist the injured workers to file and litigate claims. The lawyer should have a comprehension of the claims filing process and the compassion for the injured worker’s plight.

Regarding the claimant’s case, the workers’ compensation lawyer has the following functions.

• Contacting the medical providers and handle the paperwork regarding the claim
• Answering client questions and guide them through the workers’ compensation procedure.
• Assisting the injured worker to get the benefits that he/she deserves as well as the appropriate medical care.
• Negotiating settlements on behalf of the injured worker.
• Communicating with the supervisors of the injured worker regarding the workers’ status

Defense Duties

When it comes to the defense side, the compensation lawyer help insurance companies or self-insured employers to diminish their exposure and defend the workers’ compensation claims. They should understand the guidelines of handling the claims for each business unit that the injured worker works with. They should budget the costs and understand the billing procedures. On the side of defense, the workers’ compensation lawyer duties includes:

• Communicating with the claims representatives
• Representing the interests of the employer or insurer during hearings, depositions, trials, mediations, arbitrations, etc.
• Assisting with the investigations of accidents
• Managing workers’ compensation costs to reduce liability
• Compiling and submitting reports that is needed by the company
• Coordinating and attending claim reviews
• Negotiating settlements on behalf of the employer or the insurance company.

 Workers’ Compensation Skills and Knowledge

Workers’ compensation lawyer should have the following skills and knowledge to succeed as a workers’ compensation lawyer.

• Great oral and written communication skills
• A strong trial experience
• Should know workers’ compensation laws and procedures
• Should be able to handle large caseloads
• Should have strong research and analytical skills
• Should be able to work both independently and in a team environment.

It is worth mentioning that sports injury does not only relate to professional players, it also includes the sports spectators as well. If you have an extreme injury from a sporting event, you may be entitled to claim for any injuries that you may experience.

To some people, sports is a hobby while others, sports is more than that because sports acts as a source of income to them. Some sports such as hockey, rugby, cricket, boxing are extremely risky, and they can warranty a compensation if an accident occurs.

For you to be in a position to sue for compensation, the injury must have occurred under abnormal circumstances, like intentional harm caused by the recklessness of the other person. There must be proof that the other person was in the wrong and an injury happened because of that.

Several factors can lead to sports injury on the player’s side, they include:

• Poor coaching – using the wrong tactics taught by the coach and cause injury to the other players.
• Violent behavior – it can happen during a game.
• Improper tackle – for example a tackle done during rugby game but done incorrectly.
• Unmaintained field- uneven or poorly maintained playing courts of fields can lead to serious injuries.

Sports injury on the side of spectators can be caused as a result of:

• Gaming equipment- for example when the balls frequently get their way into the crowd and cause a serious injury.
• Game riots- this happen when one team decides to fight the other team, and it can also lead to significant injuries.
• Poorly maintained stadiums- in this case, the injuries might be caused by the seats collapsing due to poor maintenance of the stadium.

Anybody can file a claim for sports injury irrespective of the age. The compensation could be for a broken bone, fractures, head injuries, etc. If injuries happen for either the players or the spectators because of the above factors, compensation is warranted.

The procedure for filing a sports injury claim

There is a procedure that should be followed if you get a sports injury. If the injury happens as a result of negligence, then it is your right to get compensated if you make a claim. The compensation will include the medical or any other costs that are incurred together with any injury and suffering you may undergo. The procedure involves:

• Getting treatment- it is essential that you get medical attention so that the doctor can handle your injuries and have a diagnosis filed and recorded. Visit your GP, physiotherapist, chiropractor or osteopath for starters and ask them to document your injuries.
• Note down the witnesses- You should note down the information of witnesses that were there when you got injured as a reference for your claim.
• Get a good personal injury lawyer- you should hire a personal injury lawyer to handle your sports injury compensation case. Personal injury lawyers in Melbourne can handle such kind of cases diligently.
• Present any necessary documentation- if you have any important information regarding your sports injury claim, you should give it to your lawyer. The information may include medical bills, incurred expenses, etc. These will determine how much you should be compensated.