In the business world, workers compensation attorneys are often called upon to represent businesses and employers in lawsuits. In addition, these lawyers also help with cases before regulatory agencies like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Occupational Safety & Health Administration and provide counsel to injured employees. Here are when to hire a workers compensation lawyer.
When an Employee has a Work Injury
Cases with Hazleton workers’ comp attorney can involve an employer not paying for injuries that were sustained on the job, or where the injured worker is being accused of filing a false claim. When these issues arise, it is important that employers are represented very early in the process, so that they have a chance to build their case and to ensure that they have all of their bases covered.
When an Employer is Being Audited
These audits are from state and federal agencies, like the Department of Labor, the Division of Workers Compensation, or the Department of Insurance. Some employers get audited every year. An experienced attorney can prepare a company for these regular visits as well as emergency audits that arise out of a workplace incident.
When Filing for Bankruptcy Protection
To file for bankruptcy protection, an employer must report all workers comp claims that are more than 90 days old to a court-appointed trustee in bankruptcy. This report is a condition of filing for bankruptcy and it must be filed as soon as possible after the employer has been notified of the claim.
The workers comp claim report that is filed must include all medical bills that are more than 60 days old, and payments made must include any work injuries or illnesses in the preceding 90 days. If a bankruptcy attorney is not available to handle these matters, then a workers compensation attorney can help file for protection from creditors quickly and efficiently.
When Filing for an Employer Identification Number
A new employer, which is a business that has never been assigned an EIN from the IRS, must apply for one. A workers compensation lawyer will help the applicant through this process so that it can begin to do business in the shortest possible time.
When Preparing to Sell a Business
The sale of a company could involve multiple steps, including paperwork with employees and workplace regulators, as well as tax filings.