If you’ve suffered an injury at work, you deserve compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Odom Law Firm helps injured workers throughout Arkansas handle the workers’ compensation system and recover the benefits they’re entitled to receive. With over 40 years of combined legal experience and a track record of securing millions in settlements and verdicts, our team works to protect your rights and your future.
Why Choose Odom Law Firm for Your Workers’ Compensation Claim
Since 1982, Odom Law Firm has helped Arkansas workers secure compensation after injuries on the job, construction accidents, and jobsite exposures. Our lawyers focus exclusively on injury and work-related claims, providing determined advocacy and personalized service for every case.
Here’s why injured workers and their families choose us:
- $5.25 million settlement for a construction site accident causing multiple surgeries and life-altering injuries.
- $4.5 million settlement for occupational exposure that resulted in leukemia.
- $3.73 million settlement for a construction worker suffering severe injuries and PTSD after jobsite negligence.
- $3 million recovery for workplace negligence leading to permanent injury.
- Every client benefits from immediate investigation, detailed case development, and proactive attorney support.
- We advance all costs and charge no fees unless money is recovered for you.
- Free consultations make it easy to get legal answers with no risk or obligation.
Our team is dedicated to helping Arkansas workers and their families recover lost wages, medical expenses, and the compensation they deserve after any serious workplace accident.
Understanding Your Workers’ Compensation Rights in Arkansas
Arkansas workers’ compensation law provides benefits to employees injured during the course of their employment. Unlike personal injury lawsuits, workers’ compensation is a “no-fault” system—you don’t have to prove your employer was negligent to receive benefits. However, you must meet specific requirements and follow strict procedures to qualify.
In Arkansas, most employers with three or more employees must carry workers’ compensation insurance. If you’re injured at work, you have the right to medical treatment, wage replacement benefits, and vocational rehabilitation if you can’t return to your previous job. The key is understanding what injuries are covered, how to file your claim properly, and what to do if your claim is denied.
One important distinction: workers’ compensation typically prevents you from suing your employer directly. However, if a third party caused your injury—such as a defective product or a contractor’s negligence—you may have additional legal claims beyond workers’ compensation. Our firm has recovered millions in occupational exposure cases, including $4.5 million for a worker who developed leukemia. If you’ve been injured due to a defective product, you may also have a product liability claim.
Types of Benefits You May Recover
Arkansas workers’ compensation provides several types of benefits depending on your injury and its impact on your ability to work:
Medical Expense Coverage covers all reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to your work injury. This includes doctor visits, hospital stays, surgery, physical therapy, and prescription medications. The insurance company cannot deny treatment that your doctor recommends as medically necessary.
Temporary Total Disability (TTD) benefits replace your lost wages while you’re unable to work due to your injury. These benefits typically equal two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to a maximum set by Arkansas law. TTD continues until you return to work, reach maximum medical improvement, or your benefits expire.
Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) benefits compensate you for permanent loss of function or disfigurement resulting from your injury. For example, if you lose a finger or suffer permanent nerve damage, you receive a lump sum payment based on the body part affected and the degree of impairment.
Permanent Total Disability (PTD) benefits provide ongoing wage replacement if your injury prevents you from working in any capacity. These benefits continue for life or until you reach retirement age, providing crucial financial security for catastrophic injuries.
Death benefits protect your family if you’re killed in a work-related accident. Your spouse and dependent children receive ongoing benefits to replace your lost income.
Common Workplace Injuries We Handle
Workplace injuries take many forms, from acute accidents to gradual occupational diseases. Our firm has successfully represented workers injured in:
Construction site accidents are among the most serious workplace injuries. Falls from heights, equipment malfunctions, and safety violations cause devastating injuries. We secured a $5.25 million settlement for a construction worker with shoulder and knee injuries requiring multiple surgeries. Additionally, we obtained a $3.73 million settlement for a construction worker who suffered a shoulder injury along with severe PTSD and depression.
Manufacturing and industrial injuries occur when workers are struck by machinery, caught in equipment, or exposed to hazardous materials. We recovered $1.2 million for a worker struck by a crane, resulting in spinal and shoulder injuries. These types of workplace accidents often result in serious, long-term consequences.
Occupational disease exposure develops gradually over time from workplace exposure to harmful substances. Repetitive strain injuries develop from performing the same motions repeatedly, causing conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, and back injuries. These injuries often develop gradually, making them harder to connect to work.
Catastrophic workplace injuries include spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, amputations, and severe burns. These injuries permanently change your life and require substantial compensation for ongoing medical care and lost earning capacity. If you’ve suffered a catastrophic injury at work, our team has extensive experience handling these complex cases.
The Workers Compensation Claim Process
Understanding the workers’ compensation process helps you protect your rights and avoid costly mistakes:
Step 1: Report Your Injury to Your Employer
You must notify your employer of your work injury as soon as possible. Arkansas law requires you to report within 30 days, though reporting immediately is best. Your employer must then notify their insurance company.
Step 2: Seek Medical Treatment
Get immediate medical attention for your injury. Your employer or their insurance company will direct you to an approved medical provider, though you have the right to choose your own physician after the initial treatment. Keep detailed records of all medical visits, treatments, and expenses.
Step 3: File Your Claim with the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission
Your employer should provide you with the necessary forms. If they don’t, you can file directly with the Commission. The claim must include details about your injury, how it occurred, and the medical treatment you’ve received. According to the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission, proper documentation is essential to claim approval.
Step 4: Claim Investigation and Determination
The insurance company investigates your claim and decides whether to accept or deny it. This process typically takes 2-4 weeks. If accepted, benefits begin. If denied, you have the right to appeal.
Step 5: Appeal If Your Claim Is Denied
If your claim is denied, you can request a hearing before an administrative law judge. This is where having an experienced attorney becomes crucial. We handle all aspects of the appeal process, presenting evidence and arguing your case before the judge.
When to hire an attorney: You should consider hiring an attorney immediately if your claim is denied, if your employer disputes your injury, or if you have a serious injury with significant medical expenses and lost wages. Many injured workers wait too long, missing important deadlines and losing valuable rights.
Why Your Claim May Be Denied (And How We Fight Back)
Insurance companies deny workers’ compensation claims for various reasons, some legitimate and some not. Understanding common denial reasons helps you prepare:
Employer Disputes Liability
Your employer may claim your injury didn’t occur at work or wasn’t work-related. We gather evidence—witness statements, medical records, accident reports—to prove your injury happened during employment.
Pre-Existing Condition Arguments
Insurance companies often claim your injury resulted from a pre-existing condition rather than your work. We work with medical experts to show your work injury aggravated or accelerated your condition, making it compensable.
Insufficient Medical Evidence
The insurance company may claim your medical records don’t adequately document your injury or its connection to work. We coordinate with your doctors to obtain comprehensive medical documentation supporting your claim.
Procedural Errors
Missing filing deadlines or incomplete paperwork can result in claim denial. We ensure all documents are filed correctly and on time, protecting your rights throughout the process.
Missed Deadlines
Arkansas has strict deadlines for reporting injuries and filing claims. Missing these deadlines can result in permanent loss of benefits. We track all deadlines and ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
How Odom Law Firm challenges denials: We file appeals, request hearings before administrative law judges, present medical evidence, cross-examine insurance company witnesses, and argue your case based on Arkansas workers’ compensation law. Our experience fighting insurance company denials has resulted in successful appeals and substantial settlements for injured workers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Workers’ Compensation
Can I sue my employer for a workplace injury?
In most cases, no. Arkansas workers’ compensation law provides “exclusive remedy” protection, meaning workers’ compensation is your only remedy against your employer for work-related injuries. You cannot sue your employer directly, even if their negligence caused your injury.
However, important exceptions exist. If a third party caused your injury—such as a defective product, a contractor, or another company—you may have a personal injury claim against that third party in addition to your workers’ compensation benefits. For example, if a defective tool causes your injury, you can pursue a product liability claim against the manufacturer while receiving workers’ compensation benefits.
How much is my workers’ compensation claim worth?
Your claim’s value depends on several factors: the type and severity of your injury, your average weekly wage, your age and ability to return to work, and the extent of permanent disability. Temporary total disability benefits equal two-thirds of your average weekly wage up to a maximum set by Arkansas law. Permanent disability benefits depend on the body part affected and the degree of impairment according to Arkansas’s scheduled award system.
Serious injuries with permanent disability, ongoing medical needs, and inability to return to work command higher settlements. Our firm has recovered millions in workers’ compensation cases, including $3 million for a workplace negligence case and $4.5 million for an occupational exposure case. We evaluate your specific circumstances to determine your claim’s potential value.
What if I'm partially at fault for my injury?
Arkansas workers’ compensation is a “no-fault” system, meaning your own negligence doesn’t prevent you from receiving benefits. Even if you were partially responsible for your injury, you can still recover workers’ compensation. This is one of the key advantages of the workers’ compensation system – you don’t have to prove your employer was negligent.
Do I need an attorney for my workers’ compensation claim?
While you can file a workers’ compensation claim without an attorney, having legal representation significantly increases your chances of receiving full benefits. Insurance companies have experienced adjusters and attorneys working to minimize payouts. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney levels the playing field, handles complex paperwork, negotiates with insurance companies, and represents you at hearings.
Studies show injured workers represented by attorneys receive substantially higher settlements than those without representation. We work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Our free consultation lets you discuss your case with no obligation.
How long does the workers’ compensation process take?
The timeline varies depending on your case’s complexity. Simple claims with accepted injuries and clear medical causation may be resolved in weeks. Denied claims requiring appeals can take months or longer. Occupational disease cases, which require proving your condition resulted from workplace exposure, often take longer to develop and prove.
Once you file a claim, the insurance company has 15 days to accept or deny it. If denied, you can request a hearing, which is typically scheduled within several weeks to a few months, with written decisions issued within 30-60 days after the hearing concludes. If either party appeals the judge’s decision, the process extends further. We manage all timelines and deadlines, keeping your case moving forward efficiently.
Contact Odom Law Firm Today
If you’ve been injured at work, don’t handle the workers’ compensation system alone. Odom Law Firm provides experienced representation to injured workers throughout Arkansas. We handle all aspects of your claim, from initial filing through appeals, and we work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Call us today at 479-442-7575 for your free consultation. Our team is ready to fight for the benefits you deserve.
