Very few workplaces get away with having no accidents at all. In Memphis and throughout the state of Tennessee most employers need to carry workers’ compensation insurance as long as they employ at least one person. If you are in the situation where you are suffering from a work related injury and your employer is not insured because he or she doesn’t have to be you may be able to file a personal injury claim if your employer caused the injury. However, you will need a personal injury lawyer to work on your behalf. Choosing a Workers’ Comp. Attorney in Memphis There are at least 81 workers’ compensation attorneys in the city of Memphis so you are typically spoiled for choice. If you find you are not eligible for workers compensation you can use a workers’ comp. attorney to help you file a personal injury claim, as they will have had experience negotiating with employers’ insurance providers. Common Injuries at Work in Memphis There is no workplace in Memphis which is entirely risk free of the chance of an injury taking place. The Bureau of Labor Statistics* reveals that the most common accident prone workplaces in the state are transportation, utilities, education and health services. These two occupations alone make up almost nearly 50 percent of all of the state’s fatal and non-fatal accidents. Transportation injuries in Memphis could occur when a driver is in a hurry and drives too fast without paying full attention to the road conditions so ends up having an accident. Injuries in the education sector could happen when workers are involved in re-building projects. The Workers’ Compensation Procedure in Memphis If you have been injured at work, the incident should be reported immediately to your supervisor. Employees typically are given fifteen calendar days to tell their employers. It is illegal in Tennessee for an employer to fire any employee who has reported a work injury. The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation is responsible for matters concerning workers’ compensation. If your claim is denied, it will mean your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer has decided your injury isn’t covered by workers’ compensation. If the insurance adjuster will not honor your claim, you can challenge this decision. In most situations the deadline for challenging the decision is 1 year from the injury date. If a dispute occurs, an injured employee can seek assistance to help resolve the issue by contacting the bureau. A petition for Benefits Determination needs to be filed if you want the Bureau’s assistance. If a personal injury claim is to be filed it is heard in the Selby Circuit Court at 140 Adams Avenue in Memphis, which is open 8 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Friday. Use a Free Claim Evaluation to Find a Suitable Memphis Based Attorney There are good reasons why you should get experienced legal assistance from a Memphis based licensed workers’ comp. attorney. Because there are so many to choose from, you can use our free evaluation form on this page to help you select the best attorney to assist you with your claim, whether it is a workers’ compensation claim or a personal injury claim. The statutes of limitations in Memphis is 1 year which means you should file your claim with sufficient documentation well before the time limit has been reached, or you may not be able to obtain any compensation at all. Additional Resources Workers' Compensation Attorneys in Tennessee Workers’ Compensation in Tennessee *Source: bls.gov/iif/oshstate.htm#TN
