Dothan Workers' Compensation Lawyers

Dothan Law Group represents injured workers in Dothan, Houston County, and across the Wiregrass in Alabama workers’ compensation claims. We help workers hurt in warehouses, plants, construction sites, hospitals, farms, stores, and on the road, and we pursue every source of recovery, including a separate injury claim when someone other than the employer caused the harm.

What should I do after a work injury in Alabama?

1. Get medical care. For emergencies, go to the nearest emergency room. Otherwise, ask your employer which doctor to see.
2. Report the injury in writing. Tell your supervisor right away and give written notice of the accident within 5 days. Keep a copy, or send it by text or email so there is a record.
3. Describe how it happened. Say the injury happened at work and how. Be specific and accurate.
4. Follow the authorized doctor’s instructions and keep every appointment. Gaps in treatment can be used against you.
5. Keep records. Save pay stubs, medical paperwork, mileage to appointments, and every letter from the insurer.
6. Be careful with recorded statements and paperwork from the insurance company. Get advice before signing a settlement or release.
7. Talk to a lawyer if benefits are denied, delayed, or cut off, or if you cannot go back to your job.

Alabama-specific: Alabama requires written notice of a work accident within 5 days. Late notice can cost you benefits for the time before notice was given, and a claim can be lost entirely if notice is not given within 90 days, unless your employer already knew. Report every work injury in writing, even if it seems minor.

What does Alabama workers’ compensation pay?

Workers’ comp in Alabama can include:

Wage benefits generally do not start for the first 3 days of disability. If the disability lasts more than 21 days, those first days are generally paid too. Workers’ comp does not pay for pain and suffering.

Can I choose my own doctor?

Usually not at first. In Alabama, the employer or its insurance company generally chooses the authorized treating physician. If you are not satisfied, you can generally ask for one change of doctor, and the employer must then give you a panel of four physicians to choose from. Care you get on your own, outside the authorized system, may not be paid.

Choosing from the panel is an important decision. Ask about it before you pick.

Why are workers’ comp claims denied or cut off?

Common reasons we see include:

• The injury was not reported in writing on time.
• The insurer says the injury did not happen at work, or came from a prior condition.
• The authorized doctor says you reached maximum medical improvement and can return to work.
• The employer says you were an independent contractor, not an employee.
• The insurer disputes your average weekly wage, which lowers your check.
• Surgery, therapy, or a specialist referral is denied.

Alabama does not have a separate workers’ compensation board that decides disputes. If a claim cannot be resolved, it is generally filed in the circuit court of the county where the injury happened, such as Houston County Circuit Court in Dothan.

Can I sue someone other than my employer?

Often, yes. Workers’ compensation is generally your only remedy against your employer. But if a third party caused the injury, you may also have a personal injury claim against them, which can include pain and suffering. Common examples:

• On-the-job car and truck wrecks caused by another driver. See our car accident and truck accident pages.
• Defective machines, tools, or equipment.
• Unsafe conditions on someone else’s property, such as a contractor’s or customer’s job site.

Your employer’s insurer may have a right to be repaid from that recovery. Coordinating both claims is part of protecting what you keep.

Can I be fired for filing a workers’ comp claim?

Alabama law prohibits firing an employee solely because the employee filed for workers’ compensation benefits. If you were let go after reporting a work injury, the timing and the reason your employer gives both matter. Talk to a lawyer promptly.

How long do I have to file a workers’ comp claim in Alabama?

A workers’ compensation claim generally must be filed within 2 years of the accident, or within 2 years of the last compensation payment. Separate rules and deadlines can apply to occupational diseases and to third-party injury claims. Do not rely on the insurer to tell you when your deadline is.

Should I accept a workers’ comp settlement?

Be careful. A lump-sum settlement often ends your right to future medical care for the injury, and once approved, it is usually final. Alabama workers’ compensation settlements must be reviewed and approved by a judge. Before you agree, understand what treatment you may need, whether you can return to your old job, and what you are giving up.

How much does a workers’ comp lawyer cost?

Alabama law generally limits attorney fees in workers’ compensation cases to 15% of the compensation, and the court must approve the fee. Your first consultation with Dothan Law Group is free, and the fee is explained in writing before you hire us.

Talk to a Dothan workers’ comp lawyer

If you were hurt at work in Dothan, Enterprise, Ozark, Headland, Daleville, or anywhere in the Wiregrass, call Dothan Law Group at (334) 793-4354 for a free consultation. Bring your injury report, any letters from the insurance company, and your recent pay stubs.