Carter County, TN Workers’ Compensation Lawyer for Serious Work Injuries

Dealing with a catastrophic injury or loss of a loved one after a workplace accident can be indescribably challenging.  In addition to significant physical pain, serious workplace injuries can leave a victim feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, and financially compromised, especially if an employer (and their insurance company) delay workers’ compensation benefits or wrongly denies a claim.

Unfortunately, delay and denial are common, as most companies are looking to pay the least amount possible to injured workers, even when they have suffered severe impairments such as amputations, blindness, or toxic chemical exposure causing life-threatening cancer.  While it can be challenging to fight against denial of benefits, employers should never be allowed to avoid paying what they owe for severe compensable injuries that will forever impact a victim and their family.

At The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt, we can provide compassionate guidance, personal attention, and the tenacious representation you deserve.  As an experienced Carter County workers’ compensation lawyer, Mark Hurt will walk you through every step of the process and fight to get you the maximum compensation possible.  Call today to schedule a free consultation to learn about your options for pursuing benefits and how we can help!

How Much Does a Workers’ Comp Lawyer Cost?

We understand that when an individual sustains a severe injury at work, it can turn their entire life upside down.  From mounting medical bills to the inability to earn a paycheck, these situations can be financially overwhelming and devastating.  Our firm represents severely injured workers on a contingency fee basis, meaning we are only paid a fee if we secure benefits on a client’s behalf.  If successful, our fee is capped at 20% of the compensation received.

If You’ve Been Seriously Injured Call Mark Hurt and Our Firm Today – Learn How We Will Fight for You!

Firm-founding attorney Mark Hurt is a Duke Law graduate with a long-standing reputation for being a skilled litigator who achieves enviable results.  Mark is passionate about vigorously representing clients, and helping them recover after sustaining devastating injuries.  Mark has recovered millions of dollars for clients and has fought to hold numerous companies accountable for workplace accidents.  When you hire our firm, you will have the experienced legal counsel needed to vigorously seek full benefits from those trying to avoid what they owe.

What Types of Cases Does Your Firm Handle?

We represent clients in all types of severe workplace injuries, including incidents involving:

• Amputations
• Crane Accidents
• Serious Automobile Crashes
• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Cancer-causing Toxic Chemical Exposure
• Accidents Resulting in Permanent Disability
• Blindness
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Paralysis
• Falls from Construction Beams
• Explosions
• Wrongful Death
• Other Claims Likely to Result in a Partial or Total Permanent Disability

The clients whom we represent tend to have sustained devastating injuries.  Many will have lifelong consequences, and some may never be able to return to work.  Our role during this time is to seek to secure full benefits – including the medical treatment – that they deserve.

In addition, in some cases, a person or party other than an employer (such as another contractor or the manufacturer of a defective product) will be legally negligent for an injury.  In these cases, we also will file a lawsuit against any and all other persons or companies who we believe to be legally liable.  The availability of such other parties who may be at fault is critical, as (unlike workers’ compensation benefits), there is no cap on liability, and pain and suffering damages are also recoverable.

How Much Does Workers’ Comp Pay in Tennessee?

Under Tennessee law, employees who have suffered a compensable injury (meaning that an authorized physician has determined a work-related impairment exists) are entitled to receive medical and wage replacement benefits.  Healthcare should be fully reimbursed or covered at no cost, and (subject to some minimum and maximum limitations) 66.67% of the weekly preinjury wages are usually paid while an individual is unable to work.  In the case of permanent injuries, a victim may be entitled to collect Social Security Disability until they reach retirement age, at which time, they will then receive Social Security Retirement.[1]

There are three main types of wage replacement benefits:

• Temporary Disability Benefits. Temporary benefits are available if a doctor takes an injured employee off work because of an injury, reduces or limits the number of hours the employee can work, or an employer reduces wages due to a work-related injury.

• Permanent Disability Benefits. There are two types of permanent disability benefits: Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) and Permanent Total Disability Benefits (PTD).  PPD benefits may apply if a worker retains a permanent disability because of a workplace injury but can return to a job.  The benefit amount is 66 2/3% of the injured employee’s average weekly wages, subject to limitations (depending on the amount the injured employee can work and the body part affected).  PTD benefits may apply if an individual is unable to engage in any work.

• Death Benefits. If an individual dies as the result of a workplace accident, wage replacement and burial expense benefits may be available for the surviving spouse and dependents.  If a decedent has a spouse and no children, 50% of the average weekly wages will be paid, subject to the maximum weekly benefit.  If a decedent has a wife and dependents, 66.67% of their earnings will be paid.  Additionally, up to $10,000 may be awarded to cover burial expenses, [2] and if the decedent did not have any benefits, $20,000 is paid to the decedent’s estate.

What Steps Should I Take After a Serious Work Injury?

After suffering a debilitating and severe work injury, the following steps must be taken to file a claim for benefits:

• Report injuries to a supervisor, manager, or foreman.
• Ensure that an employer reports an impairment within 30 days of the injury or accident to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development Workers’ Compensation Division.
• Schedule a doctor’s visit through an employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. This appointment should be covered at no expense to the injured employee.

Once these steps are complete, an insurance adjuster will review the claim and determine eligibility.  Unfortunately, initial reviews are not always accurate, especially if an unethical insurance company is handling the claim.  In these situations, it can be vital to reach out to an experienced workers’ compensation attorney as soon as possible so that an appeal can be initiated.  At The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt, we have successfully appealed numerous denials and can fight tenaciously in seeking to get you the money and benefits you are owed.

Call Today to Schedule a Free Consultation with Experienced Carter County Workers’ Comp Attorney Mark Hurt!

If you were severely injured or lost a loved one in a tragic workplace accident, we want to help you during this difficult time.  Call our office to schedule a no-obligation, complimentary case evaluation.  Carter County workers’ compensation attorney Mark Hurt works tirelessly in seeking the full benefits – including medical treatment – legally required.  Learn about the benefits to which you may be eligible —call today!

[1] Benefits, TN Department of Workforce & Labor Development, https://www.tn.gov/workforce/injuries-at-work/injured-workers/injured-workers/benefits.html.

[2] Benefits, TN Department of Workforce & Labor Development, https://www.tn.gov/workforce/injuries-at-work/injured-workers/injured-workers/benefits.html.