Workers Compensation | Michael Law Firm, LLC

Hurt on the Job in Alabama? Here’s What Workers’ Compensation Should Do for You — and How a Lawyer Helps

Every year thousands of Alabamians are sidelined by workplace injuries—fork-lift crashes, ladder falls, repetitive-stress tears and even carpal tunnel. Alabama’s Workers’ Compensation Act is designed to get you medical care and wage replacement without having to prove your boss did anything wrong. But delays, denials, and low-ball settlement offers are common. Here’s a clear, jargon-free rundown of your rights, the deadlines, and where an attorney fits in.

1. The Fast-Action Checklist

Step

Why it matters

Deadline

Report the injury to a supervisor

Triggers the employer’s duty to file a First Report of Injury and send you to an authorized doctor.

Within 5 days of the accident (sooner is better).

Ask for a panel of doctors

You pick the physician from the employer’s list; keeps them from steering you to a “company doctor.”

Any time after the first visit if you’re unhappy.

File a claim or lawsuit

Protects your right to benefits if the insurer drags its feet or denies compensability.

Two years from (a) the injury date or (b) the last comp check—whichever is later.

Track mileage & out-of-pocket costs

You’re entitled to reimbursement for travel to medical appointments and medications.

Ongoing—submit regularly so nothing is stale.

2. Benefits You Should Receive

Benefit

What Alabama law provides (2025 numbers)

Medical care

100 % of “reasonably necessary” treatment with no co-pay: ER visit, surgery, physical therapy, prescriptions.

Temporary Total Disability (TTD)

Weekly check ≈ 66 ⅔ % of your average wage, capped at a state maximum that adjusts every July. 3-day waiting period reimbursed if you miss > 21 days.

Permanent Partial / Total Disability

Lump sum or periodic payments based on impairment rating, vocational loss, and average weekly wage.

Vocational Rehabilitation

Retraining or education if you can’t return to the old job.

Death benefits

Funeral costs + weekly benefits to dependents.

3. Common Roadblocks (and How We Clear Them)

Insurer Tactic

Real-World Fix

“Pre-existing condition” denial

Use medical records and doctor testimony to prove the work event aggravated—not merely coincided with—an old injury.

Low impairment rating

Independent Medical Exam (IME) and cross-exam of company doctor to boost the percentage.

Retaliatory firing

Alabama law forbids termination solely for filing a comp claim; wrongful-termination suit can run alongside the comp case.

4. Why an Attorney Changes the Math

Paperwork & deadlines handled — One missed filing can kill your claim; we track them for you.

Full wage calculation — We audit your pay history and demand the correct rate.

Negotiation leverage — Carriers know unrepresented workers settle for pennies; bringing counsel doubles or triples average payouts in our experience.

Third-party cases — If a defective machine or negligent subcontractor caused the injury, you may have a separate personal-injury suit on top of comp.

5. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I pick any doctor?
A: After the first visit, you can request a panel of four physicians. You choose one; if unsatisfied, you can petition for a new panel.

Q: Do I pay taxes on comp checks?
A: No. Workers’ comp indemnity benefits are tax-free under federal and Alabama law.

Q: What if I was partly at fault?
A: Doesn’t matter—workers’ comp is no-fault. The only bar is intentional self-harm or intoxication.