401.467.2300 
Being injured on the job can derail your life in an instant, leaving you unable to work and facing mounting bills. In this situation, you need a Providence workers’ compensation lawyer who can compel your employer’s insurance provider to uphold its obligations.
For decades, your Providence workers’ compensation lawyer at Gemma Law has provided personalized legal services to workers suffering workplace injuries and illnesses.
We understand the complex nature of a workers’ compensation claim and how to ensure your rights are protected. With a Providence personal injury lawyer by your side, you gain a powerful ally committed to protecting your rights and best interests when dealing with insurance companies.
Contact our office to request a free consultation today and learn more about the types of benefits you might be entitled to and how to respond if the insurance company denies your workers’ comp claim.
You Deserve Fair Treatment
Insurers are notoriously difficult companies focused on underpaying or denying legitimate workers’ compensation claims whenever possible to preserve their bottom line.
Their adjusters may attempt to downplay the severity of your injuries, dispute the work-related nature of your condition, or claim you can return sooner than medically advisable. Your attorney levels the playing field against these bad-faith tactics.
Your workers’ compensation lawyer in Providence has an extensive understanding of Rhode Island’s complex labor laws and the evidence required to establish valid claims.
We know how to gather and present persuasive proof of your injuries, workplace injury causes, medical treatment needs, income losses, and more. We can handle the paperwork and adjusters so you can focus on what matters most – your health.
For a free legal consultation with a workers' compensation lawyer serving ProvidenceCall 401.467.2300
Benefits Available in Rhode Island Workers Comp Claims
All employers across Rhode Island are required to carry workers’ compensation coverage as described under RI Gen. Laws § 28-29-6. As long as a company has at least one employee, they are required to protect that employee with workers’ comp.
If you are involved in a work-related accident, you may have the right to specific types of workers’ compensation benefits through your employer’s insurance provider.
Disability Benefits
First, the insurance company should provide you with disability benefits. The amount of compensation you will receive depends on your average weekly income, with a maximum compensation rate of $1,573 as of October 1, 2024, per the State of Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. Typically, you can continue collecting disability benefits until you can return to work or reach the maximum number of weeks allowed.
Medical Expenses
Every medical expense related to your work injury should be taken care of by the insurance company. While your health insurance coverage may pay for a portion of your medical expenses, every single out-of-pocket expense and excess damages your insurance company does not cover should be taken care of with your workers’ comp. benefits.
This includes any future medical care you may require, such as:
- Transportation expenses
- Mental health counseling
- Physical or occupational therapy
- Over-the-counter medications
- Prescription drugs
- Medical devices or equipment
- Diagnostic testing
- Ambulance bills
- Your hospital stay
- Rehabilitative care
Vocational Rehabilitation
Vocational rehabilitation benefits may be available if your injuries will prevent you from returning to work. These benefits can be used to go back to school or obtain further job training so you can eventually return to the workforce and start providing for yourself once more.
However, if you are incapable of returning to work or otherwise finding gainful employment, vocational rehabilitation benefits may not be paid out.
Providence Workers' Compensation Lawyer Near Me 401.467.2300
When You Need a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
While Rhode Island’s workers’ compensation system is intended to provide expedited relief to employees injured on the job, the process is anything but straightforward.
Insurance companies routinely challenge and deny legitimate claims to protect their profits. In the following situations, it is highly recommended to have an experienced Providence workers’ compensation lawyer advocating for your rights:
Your Claim is Denied
Insurance providers lose money whenever they pay out on a claim, so they do anything they can to reduce or deny legitimate claims. If your employer’s insurer has denied your workers’ comp claim, you face an uphill battle proving the validity of your injury or illness without legal representation.
A workers’ compensation attorney in Providence from Gemma Law Associates understands how to effectively pursue appealing a Rhode Island workers’ compensation decision when you are denied and can make compelling cases substantiating workplace accidents and occupational diseases.
You Suffered Severe or Permanent Injuries
For catastrophic injuries resulting in permanent disabilities, you need our help calculating and pursuing the full lifetime of lost earnings, ongoing medical costs, and disability benefits you will require.
Insurers frequently undervalue devastating injury claims, and in such cases, it is worthwhile to have a Providence workers’ compensation attorney evaluate your situation and determine whether negligence caused your injuries.
If another party was partially or fully liable for your accident, it may be possible to file a civil claim to pursue further compensation.
Your Employer Disputes Your Claim
When employers attempt to claim your injury did not occur at work, it creates a complex dispute scenario. Our team is skilled in workers’ comp litigation. We know how to investigate and gather evidence proving your claim’s legitimacy.
The Insurer’s Settlement Offer Seems Too Low
Insurance companies may seem accommodating at first by extending settlement offers to pay medical bills and a limited period of lost wages. However, these lump sums rarely provide complete compensation for long-term losses and medical needs arising from workplace injuries and illnesses.
Accepting a lump sum workers’ compensation settlement offer could also release the insurance company from any future liability for your medical expenses.
Your Claim is Complicated or Contested
Some workers’ compensation cases involving pre-existing conditions, third-party liabilities, or disputes over medical treatment and disability assessments require extensive legal expertise.
An experienced workers’ compensation lawyer in Providence can improve the outcome of complex claims. We are not afraid to challenge an insurance provider’s bad-faith tactics.
You Need to Appear at a Hearing
If disputes over workers’ comp benefits lead to formal appeals hearings or civil court proceedings, trying to represent yourself dramatically reduces your chances of a favorable outcome.
Workplace injury cases are highly technical legal matters with your personal and family’s financial security at stake. When complications or disputes arise, securing experienced legal representation is crucial to protecting your right to maximum benefits allowed under Rhode Island law, per RI Gen. Laws § 28-33-17.
You May Be Told to Report to Work Before You Are Fully Recovered
Insurance companies are always looking for ways to minimize the payouts they must make for workers’ compensation claims. They may try prematurely forcing you to return to work duties before your injury has properly healed. The reason is that getting you back on the job, even in a limited capacity, allows them to cease paying full benefits.
However, attempting to work while still recovering puts you at grave risk of reinjuring yourself or worsening your condition. If your treating physician still considers you unfit to return to work for medical reasons, you should immediately seek help from a Providence workers’ compensation lawyer. Unfortunately, employers and insurers may still attempt to compel your premature return by arguing:
- Your restrictions can be accommodated with light duty or modified job tasks
- An independent medical exam they arranged cleared you as able to work
- The duration of your disability payments has expired based on their assessment
What to Do if Your Employer Demands You Return to Work
In these situations, you need an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer in Providence to protect your rights. We know how to gather further substantive medical evidence disputing the insurer’s claims about your fitness to return to work. Do not put your health and ability to work in the future at risk.
You do not need to allow the insurance company to bully you into reinjury. Our firm protects workers like you whenever your rights regarding disability leave and transitional accommodations are infringed upon. Contact our team immediately if you believe you are being taken advantage of.
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Contact a Providence Workers’ Compensation Attorney for a Free Consultation
Trying to negotiate with adjusters and employers alone is a significant disadvantage in a workers’ compensation case. With a workers’ compensation attorney in Providence safeguarding your interests, insurers quickly learn their tactics will not be tolerated. We take aggressive action to ensure your rights are upheld, and you receive all benefits owed.
Injuries at work can dramatically disrupt your life and ability to provide for yourself and your family. Do not gamble with your future by letting insurance adjusters take advantage of you during this precarious situation.
Let our dedicated and compassionate team stand up for the benefits and just compensation you deserve when you contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Call or text 401.467.2300 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
