Have you recently been fired from your job? Do you believe that you were terminated wrongfully? There are a few things you should know about wrongful termination, including whether or not you can get unemployment. Your wrongful termination lawyer will help you understand the legal process and get you a fair settlement.
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Ask a Wrongful Termination Lawyer: Can I Collect Unemployment During a Wrongful Termination Claim?
If you have been terminated from your job, you might be wondering how you are going to recoup the cost of your lost wages. Collecting unemployment is one way for people to ensure that they have a source of income while they seek out help.
But not everyone is eligible to collect unemployment if they have been fired. For instance, if an employee was fired for misconduct, they would not be able to collect unemployment. However, if you were fired wrongfully and you are filing a claim, you can still collect unemployment during this time.
What to Do After Wrongful Termination?
If you believe you have been fired wrongfully from your position, there are several things that you should make sure you do. Following these steps will ensure that you have the best shot at getting a fair settlement from your claim.
Hire a Lawyer
When you are facing any legal issue, one of the first things you should do is hire a qualified lawyer. Some people opt to represent themselves in legal battles, but this is rarely a good idea.
You do not have the same kind of training and experience that a lawyer does, which means you are much more likely to make major mistakes that could cost you a fair settlement. Make sure to look for the best wrongful termination attorneys in Kansas City to help you with your case.
Get a Written Statement from Your Employer
You need to gather as much information as you can if you are filing a wrongful termination claim. If you were not initially told why you were fired, make sure you go to your former employer and ask. Even if you were told, you should request a written statement.
This statement should detail who made the decision to fire you as well as the specific reasons for your termination.
Gather Evidence and Documents
If you are making a wrongful termination claim, then the burden of proof is upon you. That means that it’s your job to provide evidence that you were fired wrongfully. Your lawyer will help you understand what pieces of evidence you need, and they will be able to help you gather them too.
During this time, make sure you are saving any documents that could be pertinent to your case. You should also be saving any emails or text exchanges with your employer. Try to communicate through writing as much as possible so you have physical evidence.
Get Testimonies from Your Colleagues
Witness testimonies can do a lot to sway the courts. If you think you have been wrongfully fired, you should make sure to talk to your colleagues and ask them for statements.
If your colleagues witnessed any misconduct on the behalf of your employers, then any statements they make could help you support your wrongful termination claim. While this can be a difficult thing to ask for, if you want justice then it’s important that you do.
File Your Claim
When you are filing a wrongful termination claim, you need to make sure that you are doing everything you need to on time. There will be some paperwork for you to fill out, and you should ensure that all of it is filled out correctly and filed on time.
When you’re dealing with the stress of being wrongfully terminated, it can be hard to keep track of other things like paperwork. This is one area where your lawyer can help you. They’ll help you fill out any necessary paperwork and get it to where it needs to be.
Avoid Making Major Mistakes
When you speak to your lawyer about your case, make sure to ask not only what actions you should be taking throughout the process, but also what you should avoid doing. There are several possible mistakes you could make that might result in you getting a lower settlement than you deserve, or having your case thrown out entirely.
A few examples of things you should avoid doing include speaking to your former employer without consulting with your lawyer first or making any disparaging remarks about them, especially on social media.
Your job is important to you. If you have been wrongfully terminated, this isn’t just frustrating. Being left without a regular source of income can also be incredibly stressful and frightening. You can collect unemployment while you are taking legal action. Your lawyer will help you get a fair settlement for your termination.
