Workers' Compensation

Nebraska Workers' Compensation Attorney

The law firm of Kelley & Lehan has a long history of fighting for the rights of working people. One of the most important rights that workers have is the right to compensation if they are injured on the job.

Workers' compensation covers your medical bills and pays you a percentage of your wages if you are unable to work for more than a week. If you have a permanent injury, you will receive compensation for permanent partial disability. Your injury may also qualify you for vocational rehabilitation or earnings capacity loss if you can't go back to your old job.

It's important to report job injuries your supervisor or a co-worker right away, preferably in writing, to document your injury. When you file a workers compensation claim, you may find yourself in need of a lawyer to protect your interests, especially if you have back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, stress, or any other injury that is less obvious. Insurance companies will often question those claims.

The insurance company that handles your workers' comp claim has a vested interest in minimizing your job injury. The insurance company may even hire a nurse case manager to sit in on your doctor appointments and try to talk your doctor into releasing you to return to work before you are ready. Except in cases of employers who have a worker's compensation managed care plan approved by the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court, these nurse case managers have no right to force themselves into your lives and the privacy of your doctor-patient office visits. Whenever the relationship between you and the insurance company turns adversarial, it is important to get a lawyer's advice.

If you are released to work with restrictions, you may face retaliation from their employer. Nebraska Law allows people who have been fired by their employers as a form of retaliation for filing a workers' compensation claim to sue their employer for wrongful termination and to recover money damages for their losses. Your employer may say they don't have any work within those restrictions. If you have a disability, they may fail to make reasonable accommodations for you in the workplace. Our lawyers are experienced in dealing with retaliatory discharge claims as well as reasonable accommodation claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

If your injury was caused by a third party (someone other than your employer or a co-worker), our lawyers can file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party. Filing a personal injury lawsuit enables you to collect additional compensation for pain and suffering, which isn't covered by workers' comp.

Representing Mexican Nationals Injured in Nebraska

Mexican nationals (including illegal aliens) have been living and working in the United States for years. Often times, employers recruit these hardworking people into the United States. Other times, various employers hire illegal aliens to work and pay them cash without records of wage and without payment of taxes. These workers are still entitled to workers' compensation benefits and still entitled to sue if necessary to recover for their injuries and damages. They can also file personal injury lawsuits against third parties who are responsible for their injuries. Firm partner Christopher Jerram is approved by the Department of Protection of the Mexican Consulate in Omaha to provide legal assistance to Mexican nationals who are injured in the United States.

Free initial consultation: Contact a Nebraska workers' compensation attorney at Kelley & Lehan. Se habla español.