First, because the law is much more complicated than you might think and it is changing all the time. You need the expertise and knowledge of a workers compensation attorney to make sure you are getting the benefits you deserve. In addition, if you were injured on the job by a defective or poorly maintained machine, for instance, there may be an underlying cause of action against the company responsible for maintaining it or the machine’s manufacturer. (See Product-Related Injury) Finally, if your injury is serious enough, you may be eligible for partial or permanent disability.