Pros and Cons of Hiring a Workers Comp Attorney in Reno, Nevada

Key Takeaways

• Hiring a workers’ comp attorney in Nevada may protect benefits when insurance companies delay, dispute, or deny claims.
• Not every workplace injury requires legal representation; minor claims with cooperative employers often resolve without disputes.
• Under NRS 616C.020, injured Nevada workers generally have 90 days from an accident to file a compensation claim.
• Attorney fees in Nevada workers’ compensation cases are regulated by state law and subject to defined limits.
• Certain situations, including denied claims, employer disputes, and long-term disability, carry higher risk without legal guidance.

Most injured workers in Reno do not know what a workers’ compensation claim actually involves until they are already in the middle of one. At Kidwell & Gallagher Injury Lawyers, we hear the same question often: is it worth hiring an attorney, or can this be handled alone? The pros and cons of hiring a workers’ comp attorney depend almost entirely on the facts of the claim. A Reno workers’ compensation lawyer may make a real difference when an insurer disputes an injury, delays benefits, or challenges long-term limitations. For straightforward claims with cooperative employers, the process may resolve without one.

Do you need a workers’ compensation attorney in Reno, NV? Craig Kidwell is certified by the State Bar of Nevada as a Workers’ Compensation Specialist and is one of only a few AV Rated Specialists in the entire state of Nevada. He has exclusively represented injured workers in Nevada for over 23 years and has personally represented over 2000 injured workers.

contact us now Call: (775) 323-2667

Why Some Nevada Workers Handle Claims Alone — and Later Regret It

The workers’ compensation process looks straightforward from the outside. A worker gets hurt, reports it, files a claim, and in the best cases, that is where the complexity ends. The employer cooperates, the insurer accepts the injury, and benefits move forward without resistance.

Those cases are far less common than most injured workers expect. Nevada’s system has specific requirements, deadlines, and procedures that are easy to misread the first time. Under NRS 616C.020, an injured employee who has sought medical treatment or missed work due to a job-related injury must file a claim within 90 days of the accident. Workers who assume the process will stay simple often discover otherwise only after something goes wrong.

When a Workers’ Compensation Claim Becomes More Difficult Than Expected

When a claim involves serious injuries, disputed causation, or high medical costs, insurers push back, questioning whether the injury happened at work, challenging recommended treatment, or disputing severity.

When an insurer issues a written determination on any dispute, including a denial, NRS 616C.315 gives the claimant 70 days to formally challenge that decision. A worker who misses that window loses the right to contest the denial. Represented workers also have the option of taking the dispute directly to a higher review level, bypassing the initial hearing stage entirely. Those dealing with these complications frequently find that how workers’ comp is calculated in Nevada carries real financial consequences depending on who is doing the calculating.

Questions About a Reno Workers’ Compensation Claim? Contact Kidwell & Gallagher for Guidance Backed by 20+ Years of Experience

Weighing the pros and cons of hiring a workers’ comp attorney is easier with actual information about your claim. Kidwell & Gallagher Injury Lawyers represents injured workers in Reno and across Nevada, with focused experience in workers’ compensation disputes, denied claims, and long-term disability matters. Call our team at (775) 323-2667 for a free consultation and a direct conversation about where your claim stands.