Atas Newsletter - Fall 2007
Workers Compensation:
Getting The Medical And Employment Compensation You Deserve
Familiar help resolves twister
Ever had a friend who needed a lawyer and wasn't sure who to turn to? You've probably wanted to refer him/her to Mr. Atas but weren't sure what types of cases he handles.
Stop scratching your head and wracking your brain! Mr. Atas, called a general practice attorney, represents cases for many areas of law and can provide the service your loved one needs.
From wills, divorces and real estate settlements to personal injury and workers' compensation claims to criminal and traffic violations, Mr. Atas is versed in many areas of law and has the experience to bring favorable results for all types of cases.
Wanting to help with all of your family and friend's legal problems, Mr. Atas will do all he can to resolve whatever issues arise. If he feels in any way unqualified to help with a certain type of law, he will find you a competent attorney who is.
For more information on Mr. Atas' practice and expertise, call (410)752-4878 or stop in for a chat.
Insurance Companies: friend or foe?
Continuing the "things an insurance company doesn't want you to know" series, this segment focuses on the games insurers play to rob injured workers of their benefits. Rightfully deserving workers must recognize these traps or risk losing compensation. With changes in the law over the past several years including almost all work-related injuries, it is more important than ever to understand the basics of your case.
As long as you are not guilty of "gross misconduct," most injuries at work-including ones that are your fault-are covered by workers compensation.
Maryland law changed about two years ago and no longer requires a slip, trip or fall to validate a workers' compensation claim. Your injury or condition is covered if it is in one of two categories: accidental injury or occupational disease.
Since the law has changed, you will receive workers compensation benefits for almost any job-related accident. Aside from accidents, occupational diseases are covered. Resulting from repetitious or continual conditions that are built into the work, these diseases cause the body to wear out over time. Common examples of occupational diseases include carpal tunnel syndrome and heart disease.
There is a two year statute of limitations on workers compensation claims.
Insurance companies often lure unsuspecting claimants into a false sense of security by assuring them that everything will be taken care of. These claimants will find, however, that waiting longer than two years will actually result in their claims being denied. Have an attorney file a claim form with the worker compensation commission immediately after your injury to avoid falling under the insurer's spell.
Medical expenses are covered for the rest of your life.
Your attorney ensures that your medical expenses related to the accident are covered for the rest of your life. Insurance companies do their best to avoid this obligation by cutting off treatment, refusing to pay your doctor or not authorizing treatment. Insurers are also infamous for scheduling independent medical evaluations to find an excuse to cut off your treatment. Free medical treatment is the most important benefit in your workers compensation case and you and your attorney must work hard to protect this benefit.
You have a right to treat with the doctor of your choice.
Insurance companies and employers often team up and send you to the company doctor for several self-serving reasons. Mr. Atas will protect your right to be treated by the doctor of your choice and may be helpful in finding doctors who are sympathetic to the rights of the injured.
If you are unable to return to your old job, the insurance company must provide vocational rehabilitation.
An unfortunate reality of work-related accidents occurs when the injured person is unable to return to his/her previous line of work. Mr. Atas will force the insurance company to provide vocational rehabilitation, in the form of job placement, training, school or a combination of the three.
He will also protect your right to have a rehabilitation counselor with good intentions, who genuinely wants to find you a suitable job-not simply the first job available. Familiar with all of the counselors, he will know which ones will value your rights and keep your best interest at the forefront of every decision.
The insurance company must pay your mileage to any doctor visits.
The insurance company is required to reimburse you for any mileage to medical appointments. Be sure to document your mileage correctly! Insurance companies typically MapQuest your mileage and have been known to indict people for fraudulent mileage requests!
You cannot work a second job if you want to be paid for missing time from work for your first.
Staying home means staying home. Even if you have two jobs at the time you are injured, you should not continue working your second job. While the insurance company from your first job will not have to pay your lost wages from the second job, it will hurt your claim if the commissioner sees that you are still able to work. The bottom line: Do NOT continue working if you hope to collect lost wages for time you've missed from work.
The remaining six items will appear in the next issue.
Opportunist wins big results
Eye to eye, shoulder to shoulder, Marc Atas levels with his clients seriously and personally, right from the start. Understanding that unresolved legal problems are burdensome and often overwhelming, the 27-year veteran handles claims the second a client reaches out for help.
By quickly developing strong relationships through phone interviews and walk-in meetings, he caters to individual needs and immediately sets cases in motion.
Such a quick, proactive response is part of what makes Mr. Atas so successful and so different from others in his field. Surpassing other attorneys who put cases aside during the lulls between court dates, Mr. Atas instead capitalizes on the slow legal process and uses every spare moment to his-and your-advantage.
Often this timely devotion comes at personal price for Mr. Atas and means long hours after most have punched out for the day. Appreciating the need for fast results, Mr. Atas recently went so far as to handle loose ends around a car accident that occurred while he was on the other side of the country, on family vacation.
Putting clients first and seizing every opportunity, Mr. Atas tirelessly defends his clients' interests and brings his approach towards law to life: "Quality representation with a personal touch."
Ideas or questions you'd like to see addressed in a future issue of Legal-ease? Call (410)752-4878 or e-mail lharger@umd.edu to have your voice heard!
Note: The information you obtain through this newsletter is not, nor is intended to be, legal advice. Please consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your situation.
