You will only pay attorney fees if we obtain a financial recovery for you, either through negotiation or a judgment. The attorney fee is based upon the amount you recover and cannot exceed 20 percent of the award.

At the law offices of Taylor & Toon, PLLC, in Memphis, we remain committed to maximizing the amount of workers’ compensation benefits that employees receive when they are injured on the job or suffer an illness that is directly related to their job. If you are injured in a workplace accident or have an injury that occurred over time due to work activity, it promises to be more challenging than ever to recover the full amount you are owed. Having experienced and knowledgeable workers’ compensation lawyers in your corner improves your chances of reaching a positive outcome.

Protecting Your Right To Be Fairly Compensated

The most significant change under the new law is a shift away from handling appeals through a hybrid system that involved the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) and trial courts. Now, a new Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims within the TDLWD will handle all claims except for the ultimate level of appeal, which will still be handled by the Tennessee Supreme Court.

Another notable change impacts the analysis of what caused the injury. Under the new law, an injury by accident, a mental injury, occupational disease or cumulative trauma condition must rise “primarily out of and in the course and scope of employment.” That is interpreted to mean that a job contributed more than 50 percent to causing an injury. Previously, the “primarily” standard applied only to repetitive trauma injuries.

An employee whose injury is determined to be compensable stands to receive:

• Medical costs that are covered at 100 percent for as long as required by the authorized treating physician. If necessary, the authorized treating physician can refer an injured party to a specialized physician for treatment.
• Disability benefits that are paid to an employee whose injuries are determined to be compensable and who will miss more than seven days of work.
• Permanent disability and final settlement — If, after maximum medical improvement (MMI), an employee’s injury is deemed to be permanent, he or she may receive permanent disability benefits.

The workers’ compensation law sets limits on the maximum and minimum amounts of compensation that an employee can receive weekly.

Contact Our Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

If you are filing a workers’ compensation claim or your initial workers’ compensation claim has been denied, our experienced work injury attorneys can help. Contact us to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.