Phoenix Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

Were you or a loved one injured on the job in Phoenix, AZ? You deserve an experienced Phoenix workers’ compensation lawyer who can help you fight for full compensation. To learn more about how we can help you get every dollar you deserve, call Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers at (602) 595-5559 to schedule a free consultation today.

Our lawyers have over 55 years of experience fighting for injured workers like you. Since we started our law group, we’ve recovered over $30 million to help our clients get back on their feet again after their car accidents, Phoenix workplace accidents, slip and fall accidents, truck accidents, bicycle accidents, medical malpractice cases in Phoenix, and many more.

The workers’ compensation system can be complex, your employer’s insurance company will want to pay less than you deserve. Our lawyers are prepared to help you recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and more.

How Can Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers Help With My Phoenix Workers’ Compensation Case?

How Can Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers Help With My Phoenix Workers’ Compensation Case?

Like any other type of insurance, you depend on workers’ compensation insurance to come through when you need it the most. Unfortunately, injured workers often face an uphill battle when it comes to recovering fair compensation. 

Our personal injury attorneys in Phoenix at Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers are prepared to help with all of those challenges, including:

  • Claims that your injury or illness wasn’t work-related
  • Doctors who push you to return to work before you’re ready
  • Problems with your paperwork and initial claim
  • Issues with calculating your average wages prior to the injury

Specifically, our team will fight for you by:

  • Investigating to determine the cause of your accident
  • Hiring experts to establish your right to benefits
  • Filing a workers’ compensation claim on your behalf
  • Advocating for you at workers’ compensation hearings 
  • Calculating the fair value of your workers’ compensation claim
  • Negotiating with the workers’ compensation insurance company 
  • Determining whether you have a right to seek compensation under Arizona personal injury laws

When you hire our Phoenix personal injury lawyers, you’ll benefit from a legal team with a 98% success rate. All you have to do is call today to get started.

How Common Are Workplace Injuries and Illnesses in Arizona?

According to data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), private employers in Arizona reported 57,100 non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses during 2021. At least 2,000 workers missed time at work due to their disability.  

Sadly, at least 67 Arizona workers lost their lives due to fatal work injuries and illnesses in 2021.

Overview of Arizona Workers’ Compensation Laws

Workers’ compensation is mandatory in the State of Arizona. Employers must purchase workers’ compensation insurance to protect workers who are injured or develop illnesses on the job.

You are entitled to workers’ comp benefits if:

  • You were an employee
  • You sustained an injury or illness that is job-related
  • The disability prevents you from working entirely or reduces your income 

You’re entitled to benefits regardless of who or what caused the disability. However, you lose your right to sue your employer for damages. You may be able to sue a negligent third party who contributed to your injury or illness.

What Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits Can I Recover if I Was Injured at Work in Phoenix, AZ?

Workers’ compensation in Arizona provides the following types of benefits:

  • All reasonable and necessary medical treatment
  • Disability benefits for lost wages

You may also be entitled to job retraining benefits if you are permanently unable to return to your prior line of work.

Medical Benefits

Injured workers are entitled to all reasonable and necessary medical expenses, including:

  • Emergency room care
  • Doctor’s visits
  • Medical devices, such as crutches, braces, splints, etc.
  • Prescription drugs

You are entitled, in most cases, to have the cost of your medical care covered even if you don’t miss time at work due to your injuries.

If you pay your medical bills out of pocket, save your receipts. You’re entitled to send those receipts to the insurance company for reimbursement.

Disability Benefits

If your doctor says that you are unable to work or are limited to light duty for at least seven calendar days, you’re entitled to disability benefits. If your disability lasts for at least 14 days, you are entitled to compensation for the first seven days of missed work. 

There is no limit on the amount of time you can receive these temporary disability benefits. Your doctor will determine when you are able to return to work.

If you have suffered a permanent disability, you may be entitled to compensation for permanent impairments and loss of earning capacity. Under Arizona law, these benefits are determined on a case-by-case basis, considering the following factors:

  • Limitations on your earnings after reaching maximum medical improvement
  • The type of injury involved
  • Your prior work history and education

Do you have questions about the amount of disability benefits you should be receiving? Contact our lawyers in Phoenix to learn more about your legal rights today.

What Happens if My Doctor Says I Can Return to Work With Restrictions?

Your doctor might determine that you are able to work in some limited capacity while you recover. Once you return to light duty, you’re entitled to receive 66 2/3% of the difference between the wages you are able to earn and your average monthly wage prior to the disability.

What Is My Phoenix Workers’ Compensation Claim Worth?

The value of your workers’ compensation benefits will depend on:

  • The severity and nature of your injury
  • The length of your recovery
  • Your average wages in the 30 days prior to the disability
  • Whether are totally or partially disabled
  • Whether you can seek additional compensation under personal injury laws
  • How the disability will impact your earnings after you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI)

During recovery, most injured workers will receive about two-thirds of their average weekly wages prior to the disability.

However, workers’ compensation is also capped by Arizona state law. If you earn more than the statewide maximum in effect during the year of your injury, you could receive less than ⅔ of your wages prior to the accident.

Workers’ comp only covers part of your economic damages. If you’re entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit, you can also seek additional compensation for things like pain and suffering, depression, PTSD, and diminished quality of life.

Will Arizona Comparative Negligence Laws Impact My Right To Receive Workers’ Comp Benefits?

No. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system in Arizona. You can receive benefits even if you were partly or entirely responsible for your injury.

Arizona’s comparative negligence law won’t impact your rights under workers’ compensation laws. If you are entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit against a negligent third party, however, your settlement or verdict will be reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault.

We’ll Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Accident Injuries

There are many different ways to get hurt on the job. 

Our Phoenix workers’ compensation attorneys often help clients who have suffered:

  • Burns
  • Hearing damage
  • Broken bones
  • Nerve injuries
  • Eye and facial injuries
  • Soft tissue damage
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Head and neck injuries
  • Concussions
  • Back injuries
  • Repetitive stress injuries
  • Musculoskeletal injuries
  • Organ damage
  • Lung damage
  • Cancer and other diseases
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Amputations
  • Paralysis
  • Catastrophic injuries

Our lawyers can also help you fight for fair compensation for the wrongful death of a loved one in fatal work injury cases.

Our lawyers handle all types of work-related injury claims, including those involving:

  • Construction site accidents
  • Scaffolding accidents
  • Exposure to toxic substances
  • Workers who are struck by falling objects
  • Failure to maintain work equipment in safe condition
  • Negligent hiring practices
  • Dangerous property conditions
  • Negligent security and workplace violence
  • Communication failures
  • Fatigue, overworking and understaffing
  • Defective work equipment
  • Electrocutions and exposure to live electricity
  • Fires and explosions
  • Overexertion
  • Ignoring state and OSHA safety regulations
  • Lack of necessary and proper safety equipment
  • Slip and fall accidents
  • Motor vehicle and trucking accidents

It’s easy to get the legal advice you deserve after a workplace accident. Contact our law firm in Phoenix to learn more about your legal options today.

How Long Do I Have To File a Claim for Compensation After a Workplace Accident in Arizona?

Under Arizona law, you have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. Click here to learn more about the Statute of Limitations in Arizona.

However, you only have one year to file a formal claim for workers’ compensation benefits. The one-year period begins on the date you sustained your work injury or the date you became aware of your work-related disability.

Contact Us Today For a Free Consultation With a Phoenix Workers’ Compensation Lawyer 

Recovering fair compensation after a workplace injury can make a huge difference in your future. Contact Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers today to learn how an experienced Phoenix workers’ compensation attorney can help you handle the legal issues you might face.

Our personal injury law firm in Phoenix, AZ also provides: