Workplace injuries and illnesses can render you unable to work, meaning you may not be able to provide for your family. Worse, your employer may dispute your workplace accident case, claiming you are ineligible for compensation. You may need a Denver compensable work injuries lawyer to help you pursue the total workers’ compensation benefits you are due.
At Kaplan Morrell, we can review your case and determine whether you have a viable claim for your benefits. Our workers’ compensation attorneys provide support and resources to help Denver families fight for their futures and secure compensation and peace of mind. Contact us to schedule a consultation and learn how we can help.
Kaplan Morrell provides experience and support for your Denver work injury claim
At Kaplan Morrell, we focus on the devastating impacts that a work injury can have. We understand that these can change everything, potentially leaving you permanently disabled or unable to work in the capacity you once did. Death from workplace injuries can also leave a family grieving the loss of a loved one who may have been the family breadwinner. This is why we focus on providing the advice and legal representation workers and their families need following a workplace accident.
Kaplan Morrell has served the Denver community for over two decades, and our attorneys and paralegals have over 50 years of combined experience. Our team of attorneys and legal professionals has an extensive background in navigating the complexities of workers’ compensation, employment, and Social Security disability laws that govern workers in Colorado and nationwide.
Beyond guiding our clients in the courtroom, we dedicate ourselves to supporting the community we serve by donating to many local and national charities, including weekly donations to local nonprofits.
We’ll support you throughout the Denver workers’ compensation process
When you have been injured in a work accident and are unsure if you qualify for workers’ compensation, we can help you secure your due benefits. We understand how complex these laws are and how easy it is to make a mistake insurance companies may use against you.
We begin our work by reviewing your case to determine what injuries you have suffered, how they happened, and whether your workers’ compensation insurance claim appropriately covers them. Specific benefits can differ from case to case, so identifying whether your injuries are compensable is the first and most crucial step toward filing your claim. Once we establish the facts of your case, we can determine the maximum compensation you can pursue for each benefit you deserve.
After determining your eligibility for workers’ comp, we resolve obstacles to your medical care. We help our clients file paperwork, negotiate with insurance companies, and pursue litigation and appeals. We ensure each client knows their benefits and options so they can always make informed decisions about their next steps.
Our compensable work injury lawyers in Denver know the ins and outs of workers’ compensation law
While workers’ compensation benefits can cover a range of suffering caused by a work-related accident, not every accident on the job leads to a compensable injury. For eligibility, your work accident must:
- Have happened to you as an employee
- Led to an injury or illness in the course of your employment
- Resulted in impairment or lost income
You may be denied compensation if your injury does not meet all these criteria.
Work-related injuries include any type of injury that results directly from workplace duties. While occupational injuries like a slip and fall, electrocution, or vehicle accident can all qualify, other injuries such as repetitive stress injuries or occupational illnesses like asbestosis may also be compensable. When your workplace duties take a physical or emotional toll on you over time, you may have grounds to pursue compensation.
However, some injuries may not be compensable based on how the accident occurred. For example, you may not receive benefits for injuries during your commute or an event off the clock. Likewise, cases relating to occupational illnesses do not include common illnesses that could have been contracted elsewhere, such as the flu.
We’ll make sure your claim is filed on time
When filing a workers’ compensation claim, knowing your injuries are compensable is essential, but meeting critical deadlines is even more crucial in the workers’ comp insurance process. Failure to meet filing deadlines can mean you lose access to your workers’ compensation benefits. The process of staying on schedule starts with immediately seeking medical care after your accident from the nearest healthcare provider.
Next, you must report the accident to your employer in writing within 10 days of the accident, according to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. Once this report is made, you have two years from the date of your injury to file a claim with the Division of Workers’ Compensation. If you do not act within this time period, your claim may be closed, leaving you unable to pursue workers’ compensation.
After receiving your injury report, your employer must file their own report with their insurer within 10 days of your notice. Failure to do so can lead to significant consequences for your employer, including financial penalties and higher premiums. Once the insurer has been notified and the employee has filed a claim with the Division of Workers’ Compensation, the insurance company has 20 days to determine liability, accept liability, or file a Notice of Contest. If the insurer contests your claim, this may lead to a hearing we can help guide you through.
Kaplan Morrell works hard to recover maximum benefits for your Denver work injury
As you navigate a workers’ comp claim for your compensable work injuries, determining what benefits you are due can help you better understand what your claim is worth. Settling for less at any point in your workers’ compensation claim can leave you paying out of pocket for expenses that your workers’ compensation benefits should cover. Because of this, we strive to ensure each of our clients understands the benefits they are due and how they can pursue that coverage.
Medical care coverage
Medical care coverage is one of the most important benefits under workers’ compensation law. This pays for any type of aid you receive to address your injury or illness, from emergency services to rehabilitation or physical therapy. If you required medical care at any point for the compensable injuries you suffered, it should be automatically covered by these benefits.
Wage recovery benefits
According to the Colorado Office of the State Controller, you may also be due wage replacement benefits, which offer up to 66% of the income you would have received if your employment or working days had not been disrupted. Your compensation from these benefits can vary depending on how long you cannot work, how many work days you have missed because of your injuries, and whether you will return to work in a diminished capacity. If your injuries leave you permanently unable to work, we can help you navigate Social Security disability benefits.
Death benefits
When a work injury or illness kills a Colorado worker, their spouse and dependents may be eligible for compensation through the deceased’s work comp benefits. Death benefits provide a certain amount for funeral and burial services, and some of the same wage replacement benefits the worker would have received.
These benefits continue until the spouse remarries or the dependents turn 18. In some cases, spouses and dependents can receive death compensation benefits for life if remarriage does not occur and/or the dependents are impaired and unable to work.
Work with the most trusted compensable work injuries lawyer in Denver
When preparing to file a workers’ compensation claim, knowing whether your injuries are compensable is crucial. Without the right information and documentation, your claim may be denied even if your case is viable. Working with an attorney to determine your compensability under Colorado workers’ compensation law is the best way to get the financial support you need as soon as possible.
At Kaplan Morrell, we strive to be the top-tier Denver compensable work injuries attorney you need on your side, securing you the compensation and benefits you are due. If you have been injured in a workplace accident and need legal support, do not hesitate to reach out for a consultation about your opportunities for workers’ comp benefits. To learn more, call (303) 780-7329 or complete our online contact form.
We answer common questions about Denver compensable work injuries
Why are certain illnesses like the flu not compensable under my Denver workers’ compensation benefits?
Workers’ compensation is reserved for occupational illnesses that would not have otherwise been contracted outside your occupation. For example, a doctor exposed to an infectious disease by a used syringe may contract a compensable illness. Still, someone who contracts a stomach virus while working with the public may not have the same opportunities for compensation. To determine whether your work duties or environment exacerbated certain health conditions, speak with our attorneys directly.
Am I required to hire an attorney for my Denver work injuries?
While you are not required to hire a workers’ compensation lawyer following a work accident, doing so can provide you with crucial support you may not otherwise have. For example, we provide award-winning services and experience that can remove the stress and pressure of the filing and hearings processes. By partnering with a dedicated work injury attorney, you will have more time to focus on healing.
If the judge determines my work injuries are not compensable, do I have grounds for an appeal?
Suppose you are dissatisfied with the administrative law judge’s decision and have evidence that their ruling was unfair. In that case, you may have grounds to pursue further benefits through an appeal. However, appeals cases have strict deadlines, including a 20-day filing deadline for your Petition to Review, according to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. If you’re considering filing an appeal and disputing the decision, consider having a lawyer like those at Kaplan Morrell on your side.
Kaplan Morrell guides work injury victims through their recovery
Navigating your recovery can be emotionally taxing, so Kaplan Morrell offers local resources to help you get the support you need when you need it most.
Consider these reputable physical and occupational therapists locally
1. Orthopedic Centers of Colorado Physical & Occupational Therapy – Denver Rose/Cherry Creek
4700 E Hale Pkwy, Denver, CO 80220
2. Back In Balance Chiropractic
1575 E Bridge St, Brighton, CO 80601
3. Atlas Physical Therapy
4045 N Pecos St Ste 140, Denver, CO 80211
If you are dealing with emotional trauma, these nearby counselors may be able to help
1. Owl & Eagle Health and Wellness – Golden
430 Indiana St, Suite 100, Golden, CO 80401
2. The Catalyst Center
300 S Jackson St #520, Denver, CO 80209
3. Denver Metro Counseling
1780 S Bellaire St #485, Denver, CO 80222
Our Denver office location
2373 Central Park Blvd
Suite 100
Denver, CO 80238
Phone: (303) 780-7329
We are available 24/7 by phone