Grants Pass Worker Compensation Attorneys

The legal team at Shlesinger & deVilleneuve has been providing comprehensive and effective counsel to injured Oregon employees for more than four decades. Whether your claim has been denied and you need help with an appeal, or you’ve received a notice stating that your medical assistance will not be covered, our team of qualified legal representatives will work hard to ensure you receive the benefits that you are due.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance is meant to shield an employee if they sustain an injury at work; the law is intended to cover the health care and a portion of lost wages until the employee can return to their job. Regrettably, in Oregon, the laws governing workers’ compensation insurance are so intricate and confusing that many employees decide they need a lawyer to assist them in getting through the process of filing their claim, and more importantly obtaining benefits!

Workers’ Compensation Benefits typically fall into these categories:

• Coverage of health care for any disability or harm sustained due to the injury
• Supplemental Income
• Occupational retraining fees

• Reimbursement for irreversible injuries
• Benefits for survivors of employees who are killed at work

At the time that you file a workers’ compensation claim, you are no longer interacting with your employer, you are now interacting with the insurance provider that your employer hired to offer their workers’ compensation insurance coverage. The people at the insurance company have only one job to do, which is to negotiate a settlement that pays you the very least amount possible. They absolutely do not have your best interest on their minds – we do. This scenario is exactly why Shlesinger & deVilleneuve have become experts in workers’ compensation law; our firm was formed because of a unyielding passion for promoting the rights of clients who otherwise would be at the mercy of the big insurance companies and their many resources. An injured individual hardly stands a chance of being treated fairly or receiving a fair compensation amount without an experienced lawyer in their corner. At Shlesinger & deVillenueve, we have more than forty years of expertise fighting for the rights of injured Oregon residents. We thoroughly understand the intricacy of Oregon’s workers’ compensation laws, therefore, we know the steps necessary to secure the benefits you deserve!

Filing a Claim

This process is driven by strict time limits. The claim must be filed immediately with your employer. There are many hurdles in Oregon when filing a workers’ compensation claim. Doing things by the book will help you pilot these challenges. Next, seek medical help promptly. Give the medical provider a thorough and specific explanation of the events that occurred and make sure to review their chart notes before leaving your appointment. Your case can be won or lost simply from the timeline that is given to and documented by the medical provider.

Notice of Closure

If your claim is closed, you might receive a notice permanently awarding partial benefits. This notice will report a strict time line for submitting an appeal. If you get a denial notice you have only 60 days to reply. You need to act within this timeframe or you will lose the opportunity to appeal for an increase in benefits. For those who have received a Notice of Closure, don’t assume the insurance company will give you a fair amount of money. It requires a seasoned attorney to tackle this process and secure all benefits you are entitled to. It would be to your advantage to call all us now if you have received a Notice of Closure.

Medical Service and Vocational Retraining Disputes

Unfortunately, it is not unusual for a hurt employee to be denied needed medical interventions or vocational retraining. Insurance companies are hesitant to cover needed surgeries and care. Any notice denying coverage will always come with a strict timeframe within which to reply or appeal. If you receive a notice that your medical treatment is being refused or perhaps that you are not eligible for vocational retraining benefits – contact us immediately so that we can make this right!

Third-Party Claims

Sometimes an employee sustains an injury at a job site that is controlled or managed by someone who is not their employer or co-worker. In this case, the worker may have grounds for a third-party claim, which is very similar to a personal injury claim. A third-party claim can possibly provide an additional source of reparation for an injured worked. As with most, these claims have a strict timeline within which to reply or to appeal. Time is of the essence, contact our office as soon as possible if you’ve been injured at work.

Settlements

Settlement of a Workers’ Compensation claim is frequently a possibility. If you’re interested in seeking settlement of your Oregon Workers’ Compensation claim, you will need a serious attorney. The insurance company will likely only be looking out for themselves and their client – not you! Call us right away so that we can help you determine what your best course of action is.

Attorney Fees

There is a statute in Oregon that determines attorney fees for Oregon Workers’ Compensation cases. The way the fee is paid is dependent up the way the case is resolved. This means that if you do not receive a settlement or an increase in your benefits, you do not owe attorney fees.

Costs

Occasionally, your attorney will need to incur out-of-pocket expenses to build your case. This is especially true if you’ve been denied and your case is going to a hearing or to court. These expenses are not intended to pay for attorney or staff time, but will be used in furthering your claim to gain evidentiary tools such as copies of medical records and reports, expert witness testimony, court reporting, etc.

Oregon has strict timeframes regarding workers’ compensation claims. It is vital that you seek medical help and inform your employer of your injury immediately! Next, you should call our office not later than one week after the accident. We will help you to gather the information and data you’ll need and will provide you with guidance on how to proceed. When you contact our office you will hear back from one of our attorneys most likely that same day to schedule a free remote or in-person legal conference. Our fees for workers’ compensation cases are always contingent; we will not take payment until your claim is won!