Every employee is normally protected under Workers' Compensation laws, no matter what your career may be. If you are hurt at work, it is extremely important to hire a workers' compensation attorney to be sure you are receiving the proper benefits. Do not assume you don't need an attorney just because you are receiving weekly paychecks.
For example, just because you receive weekly workers' compensation checks does not mean liability has been accepted for your work-related injury. Insurance companies are allowed to (and do) pay you weekly checks without ever accepting liability for your injury. While this may not seem to make a difference to you at first, it will very quickly become a problem for you when they suddenly stop paying you all together. Without an acceptance of liability, insurance companies can shut off your weekly checks at any time and without any notice. A workers' compensation attorney will help you establish liability so this does not happen to you.
Additionally, if you were left with a scar or any type of disfigurement from your work-related injury, an attorney will help you get compensation, in the form of a lump sum payment, for having to live with that scar or disfigurement for the rest of your life. Keep in mind that you do not have to miss any days from work in order to receive compensation for scarring.
If your injury resulted in a loss of function to one of your extremities, an attorney can help you receive compensation for loss of use to whatever extremity is now limited. Based on your impairment rating, you will receive a lump sum payment for such loss of use.
The workers' compensation system can be difficult to navigate and thus you should always hire a workers' compensation attorney to represent you for your work-related injury. The good thing is, there is never any out of pocket costs for you to hire a workers' compensation attorney.