Settlement in Workers' Compensation Claims
The terms of a settlement and the way the settlement is written can seriously impact your life. Health insurance can try to take the money for medical expenses they paid. Social Security Disability, Long Term Disability and Short Term Disability can demand reimbursements, and benefits can be reduced or eliminated entirely. Simple wording revisions or negotiations by an experienced workers' compensation attorney can fix these problems. If you have received a settlement from an insurance company attorney or adjuster, call Atkin & Associates ASAP for a free settlement review.
Even though settlements require special legal attention, an attempt to settle a disputed case for a reasonable amount is recommended in most situations. Usually, the injured worker and his attorney decide on a fair settlement amount and make the first offer of settlement to the insurance company's attorney. The insurance company can accept the offer, decline the offer or make a counter-offer with different terms. If there is a counter offer, the injured worker can accept it, decline it, or make another counter-offer. This negotiation continues until a final offer is accepted or declined.
All settlements must be approved by an ALJ at the Labor Commission. This adds a few extra days to the process, but allows the judge to review the settlement to make sure it is appropriate.
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