Do I Need A Lawyer To Settle A Workers Comp Claim?

Do I Need A Lawyer To Settle A Workers Comp Claim?

The short answer is Yes.  That is, if you want to ensure that your rights are adequately protected and ensure that you obtain the highest settlement value possible.

Are you required to have an attorney to settle your workers comp case?  That answer is no, actually.  However, it is inadvisable under most circumstances.

Why is this?

If you are an employee who has been injured at work, you are entitled to collect various benefits under the Massachusetts Workers Compensation Act.  Under this Act, an injured employee is entitled to, among other things, weekly disability benefits while they remain out of work, as well as medical benefits that are related to the work injury.  Sounds simple.  But it’s not.

The reason is that these payments (both weekly disability checks and the work related medical benefits) are paid by workers compensation insurance companies.  And, like any insurance company, these companies are looking out for themselves first, and you second.  These companies are all about saving money by paying you, the injured employee, as little as possible.   They will try to do this in as many ways possible.  But the bottom line is that their business thrives by paying you less.

Furthermore, when workers compensation cases wind up in court, the insurance companies hire lawyers to represent their interests.  Like the companies they represent, these attorneys have a fiduciary obligation to represent their clients to the best of their abilities.  Again, this generally means, saving the insurance company as much money as possible.  And again, this is accomplished at the expense of the injured worker.

So why is it vital to have an experienced Massachusetts Workers Comp Lawyer at your side?  Because they are looking out for you; the injured worker.  They are there to balance the books and ensure that your rights are protected.  They are there to ensure that you are not taken advantage of.  Your rights come first.

A workers compensation settlement under Section 48 of the Massachusetts Workers Compensation Act, provides, in certain situations, a lump sum payment to the injured worker to close out their claim.  The settlement value is determined by a number of factors, and can range from very small to very large amounts.  These factors are not always common knowledge to lay individuals who don’t practice in this area.  But the Insurer’s attorneys know the law quite well, and will do their best to ensure that the insurance companies pay out as little as possible.  Therefore, it only makes sense for the injured worker to have someone at their side as well.

Don’t let the insurance companies take advantage of you.  Hire an experienced Massachusetts Workers Comp Lawyer to ensure that your rights are protected, and that you obtain the best settlement possible.

At Troupe Law Office, we have over 40 years of experience solely in the representation of injured workers and their families. Please visit our web site at for more information. Or, call us at (978) 531-7401. We offer free consultations for all cases.