Middletown, CT Worker’s Compensation Lawyer
Middletown’s Workers’ Compensation & Social Security Disability Lawyer
Our firm specializes in worker’s compensation and social security disability cases.
Since 1987, Costello, Coombes & Brown, LLP have been serving the Middletown area, providing advice and representation for worker’s compensation and social security disability matters. Medical bills and absent days from work, cause grave concern for those afflicted. Take time out to contact our team here at Costello, Coombes & Brown and schedule your consultation today.
Our Attorneys serving Middletown
With decades of experience and know how, our committed team of attorneys work alongside clients when handling their worker’s compensation or social security disability claims. Our expert team of friendly attorneys has just the perfect personal touch that ensures our clients that they are our #1 priority. Our partners and associates encourage open communication with all clients, recognizing that communication is key to a successful claim. Contrary to other law firms, we here at Costello, Coombes & Brown, LLP are steadfast in our commitment and obligations to all our valued clients.
Kevin W. Coombes
A Board Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist and a leading advocate for clients with workers’ compensation claims and social security disability claims.
Frank V. Costello
A Board Certified Workers’ Compensation specialist.
Jeremy L. Brown
Associate attorney.
Workers’ Compensation Attorneys in Middletown
What is Workers’ Compensation?
Worker’s Compensation benefits are afforded to all employees, whether working part-time or full-time when a work-related injury or illness occurs. If you are injured on the job or develop any type of a work-related illness or disease, and are unable to perform your job and duties, you may be entitled to worker’s compensation benefits provided by your employer. When you are awarded these benefits, they help you in providing financial support when you are unable to perform your typical job and its responsibilities and tasks. The Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Act provides three main types of these benefits. These include:- Wage Replacement Benefits
- Reasonable or necessary medical care
- Compensation for Permanent Injury
Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim
Once you have consulted with our firm, rest assured our team of professionals will ensure that you receive just compensation for all your losses. The entire process is somewhat simple. For starters, employees who miss more than three consecutive days of work as a result of an injury or work-related illness, must obtain Voluntary Agreements that are executed, filed and approved by a commissioner following the three-day absence from work. When injured at your Middletown place of employment, be sure to report your incident immediately to your supervisor and/or your Human Resource Director and obtain any emergency medical attention needed. Once you have received necessary medical attention, it is mandatory to file a Form 30C (which is a notice of claim for compensation) to ensure that your claim has been entered. As a matter of information, should an insurance carrier decide to deny your benefits they must file a Form 43 explaining why benefits are being denied and whenever they elect to terminate your benefits must file a Form 36 explaining the reason for discontinuing benefits.Industries Our Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Help In Bristol
Here at Costello, Coombes & Brown, LLP, we take tremendous pride in our top-rated, board-certified roster of worker’s compensation and social security benefits attorneys, including Attorney Kevin W. Coombes and Attorney Frank V. Costello. Our law firm represents employees throughout the entire State of Connecticut who have fallen victim to a workplace injury and are in need of professional representation. Injuries may include, but are not limited to, orthopedic injuries to the back, neck, and shoulders, repetitive trauma claims, heart and hypertension claims (which are more specific to state and municipal employees) or work-related heart attacks and a wide range of occupational diseases.Common Questions About Workers’ Compensation in Middletown
What Should I do If I am Injured at Work?
If you suffer an injury or develop a work-related illness here in Middletown, your first important step is to report the incident to your supervisor and/or employer. Be sure to report the incident right away since there is a short time span within which to file or else your claim will be denied.
What Benefits Am I Entitled To?
There are four types of benefits that injured employees are entitled to from medical treatment, disability payments, and permanent disability settlement benefits for those who suffer permanent impairment to vocational rehabilitation for those unable to return to their initial job and have no modified position available to them.
Where Are the Hearings Held?
Here in the State of Connecticut there are eight office locations where both formal and informal hearings are scheduled to be heard by commissioners, including Hartford, New Britain, Middletown, Norwich, New Haven, Waterbury, Bridgeport, and Stamford. If an appeal is scheduled they are scheduled in the chairman’s office and heard by the Compensation Review Board.
Can I Return to Work After My Injury?
Once you have had ample time to recover, and your doctor indicates that you are physically capable of performing your job and responsibilities, then you are entitled to return to work. If, however, you are unable to perform your typical job, your employer may offer you an alternative position in the company. If there is not alternative position available, then your employer may offer you vocational rehabilitation benefits.
Social Security Disability Attorneys in Middletown
What is Social Security Disability?
Social Security Disability Benefits are awarded to individuals who suffer life-changing illnesses or injuries that cause employees to no longer be able to perform their jobs and responsibilities. When you or a loved one here in Middletown are unable to work any longer, applying for Social Security Disability Benefits may be the ideal solution for you. In order to apply for Social Security Disability in Bristol you must:- Have a medical condition that’s expected to last one year or result in death
- Not have a partial or short-term disability
- Meet the Social Security Administration (SSA) definition of disability
Filing a Claim for Social Security Disability
When filing a claim for Social Security Disability Benefits you can either complete the initial application for disability online, or else you can choose to fill out a Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST), in your efforts to determine whether or not you are a qualifying candidate for benefits. If you prefer to have legal representation in filing and applying for Social Security Benefits, then the highly skilled SS disability attorneys here at Costello, Coombes & Brown, LLP are on hand to handle the filing and processing of your claim from start to finish. Our team will gather all the important facts and medical information needed to support your claim while it is being reviewed by the Social Security Administration.When to Hire a Social Security Disability Attorney in Bristol
Here at Costello, Coombes & Brown our clients are our #1 priority. With that said, relying upon the knowledge and expertise of our disability attorneys increases your chances for claim approval. Our team is on hand from the initial application process right on out to the actual hearing and represent every client with a more favorable approach. If, however, your disability benefits claim is denied for any reason, our team will be diligent in filing an appeal, gathering additional supportive medical documentation, and requesting a reconsideration of your benefits and claim. If you have already filed a claim and have been denied, then surely, we are the law firm for you. Give us a call and let us file an appropriate appeal and seek to attain the benefits you are entitled to.Common Questions About Social Security Disability in Middletown
How Long Does It Take to Receive a Decision on Social Security Disability?
Once your application is completed and submitted, it can take anywhere from one month to nearly two years to get approved except in the case of severe disabilities, then the approval process can be expedited.
What Happens if my Social Security Disability Case is Denied?
Many individuals take it upon themselves, once denied, to request an appeal. It is important to adhere to the 60-day deadline when doing so, otherwise you will be unable to file an appeal. If the 60-day deadline passes, you not only lose your appeal rights, but you also are restricted from beginning the approval process a second time.
If you choose, however, to engage the professional services and representation of the expert worker’s compensation and social security disability attorneys here at Costello, Coombes & Brown, you can feel confident that should you be denied your disability benefits, our team will be steadfast in filing an appeal. Further, if your request for benefits and your appeal are both denied, our dedicated Middletown lawyers, we will then go one step further and request a hearing before the Administration Law Judge (ALJ).
What is the Fee for a Social Security Disability Lawyer?
At Costello, Coombes & Brown, LLP, our fee for services rendered is always contingent upon your application for benefits being processed and approved. Once approval of your benefits is obtained, the Social Security Administration pays our firm directly from your retroactive benefits. We do not charge any of our clients upfront fees, except if we need to obtain medical reports from providers, then we charge only the fee for obtaining those records.
We Are Greater Middletown’s Trusted Law Firm
If you work in the Middletown area and have suffered a work-related injury or developed a work-related illness or disease then don’t delay. Reach out to the reputable team of worker’s compensation and social security disability attorneys here at Costello, Coombes & Brown, LLP and schedule your consultation today. We look forward to serving you and to helping you get both your health and your life back on track again!.