Workers’ compensation is a no-fault type of insurance that’s taken out compulsorily by most employers in Oklahoma. It helps to pay for medical expenses and lost wages if you are injured or become ill while at work. If you think you are not eligible for workers’ compensation or your claim has been rejected, think about hiring a personal injury attorney to take your claim a step further. Choosing a Workers’ Comp. Attorney in Oklahoma City There are more than 20 workers’ compensation lawyers who are based in and around Oklahoma City. The first step to selecting an attorney is to choose one that is licensed, as a Oklahoma City based attorney as well as one who specializes in workers’ compensation and personal injury law. In the event that you have to file a personal injury claim instead, a WC attorney is still a good choice as they will have had experience dealing with employers’ insurance providers. Common Injuries at Work in Oklahoma City All workplaces in Oklahoma City have a certain amount of risk attached to working in them, even if it is a slip and fall on a wet floor or tripping over a loose bit of carpeting. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals* that the two most common accident prone occupations in the state are transportation and mining. These two occupations in isolation account for almost 50 percent of all fatal and non-fatal accidents that occur in the state. Transportation injuries in and around Oklahoma City can happen when road works are in place and the driver of the a truck or other vehicle loses control due to inattention and it’s inadvertently driven into other vehicles close by causing serious injuries to the driver and other occupants. Mining is a high risk occupation meaning extra care has to be taken by management to ensure the safety of employees. Accidents can involve a variety of injuries which could include anything from traumatic brain injuries to broken bones or even suffocation if an air vent fails and workers are unable to breathe. The Workers’ Compensation Procedure in Oklahoma City Oklahoma state law states that employers must provide workers’ comp. insurance for all their employees, even if there is only a single part-time employee. The only employers who are exempt are those hiring employees for domestic duties in a household and earn less than an annual income of $10,000. If your employer has workers’ comp. insurance there is a good chance you will be eligible to receive workers’ comp. benefits. A workers comp. claim should be filed with your individual employer’s insurer within 1 year of the injury, preferably if possible a lot sooner. Also, to be sure that word has got around about your injury, you must notify your closest supervisor or manager of the accident and the associated injury as soon as you can, giving precise details of what happened to cause the accident, how the incident happened and the date and time. If you are in a job where your employer is not required to provide insurance you may have the chance to file a personal injury claim if you can provide proof that your employer caused the injury. A petition should be filed with the help of an attorney at the Oklahoma County Civil Court, located at Robert S. Kerr Ave. in Oklahoma City. Use a Free Claim Evaluation to Find a Suitable Oklahoma City Based Attorney There are good reasons why you should get experienced legal assistance from an Oklahoma City based licensed workers’ compensation lawyer. Because there are so many to choose from, you can use our free claim evaluation form below 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. Helpful Resources Applying for Workers' Comp in Oklahoma Denied Benefits in Oklahoma? *Source: https://www.bls.gov/iif/oshstate.htm#OK
