Few life events have the potential to be scarier than suffering a catastrophic injury at work. After all, not only must you deal with pain and a long recovery, but you may not be able to work or support yourself and your family members financially. Fortunately, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits to help you manage your work-related injury.
Workers’ compensation mediation is an informal way to resolve disputes. With mediation, you and your employer or its insurance provider meet with a neutral third party to come up with a resolution for your claim. The right mediator may make a considerable difference in obtaining the compensation you deserve.
The role of a workers’ compensation mediator
Because it can be difficult to predict the outcome of a workers’ compensation hearing, it may be in your best interests to attend a mediation session. During mediation, all parties work with a mediator who has in-depth knowledge of workers’ compensation rules and workplace injuries.
The mediator helps the company, its insurer and you explore issues and reach common ground. Because the mediator is neutral, he or she is on no party’s side.
The benefits of workers’ compensation mediation
At your mediation session, you have an opportunity to present facts to the mediator, your company and its insurer. After hearing these facts, the mediator facilitates settlement negotiations. He or she also ensures discussions remain civil and confidential.
If you cannot reach an agreement during mediation, you have the option of resolving the matter at a workers’ compensation hearing. Ultimately, because of the flexibility mediation offers, relying on the skill of a mediator may be an effective strategy for settling your claim quickly and moving on with your life.