The Ultimate Guide to Hiring a Workers Comp Attorney

12.8% of workers’ comp claims are denied or unresolved pending investigation. To mitigate the risk of being denied, consider hiring a workers comp attorney.

Being injured at work is a frustrating experience for any employee. Fortunately, the worker’s compensation legislation allows injured workers to seek payments that help to mitigate the impact of lost income.

However, despite workers’ compensations benefits being offered by the law, eligible workers find trouble getting the benefits they deserve. If you are suffering from a job-related injury, it’s best to hire an experienced worker’s comp attorney to help remove these obstacles.

But again, how do you determine the best worker’s comp lawyer for your case? Continue reading for the best advice on choosing a workers’ compensation attorney.

Seek Word of Mouth Recommendations

Before you settle for an attorney, it is always advisable to consider the best. Unfortunately, hundreds of law firms are out there, and determining the best five can be a challenge.

So, where should one begin?

The best place to get started is with recommendations from family and friends. Honest referrals from people you trust will help you determine trustworthy lawyers fast.

If you know someone who suffered similar injuries involving worker’s compensation, it would be worthwhile talking to them. Let them share their experience working with their lawyer and whether they were satisfied with the compensation.

Go For Experience

A worker’s compensation dispute is normally complicated to work through. It’s even complicated to work towards a solution when you don’t understand the basics of workers’ compensation laws.

This is why you should seek help from an experienced lawyer.

The right lawyer for your case should be experienced and one who has handled similar cases in the past. Such attorneys are exclusively qualified to handle your case and offer strategies and solutions.

Again, they understand the ins and outs of the legal process and laws applicable in your case.

Consider the Lawyer’s Specialty

Whenever you meet an attorney, start by asking them about their workers’ compensation law expertise. This is essential to determine whether or not you are working with a skilled workers’ compensation attorney.

Although the attorney’s website may claim they are specialists, don’t forget to ask this question.

At times it is even better to find a workers comp specialist who knows how to deal with your case. For example, if you suffer from repetitive stress injury, such an injury can be difficult to prove on a workers compensation claim.

In such a case, it’s best to find a lawyer who has a record of success in dealing with this type of injury.

Strong Financial Resources

Normally, lawyers who deal with workers’ compensation cases operate on a contingency fee basis. This means you don’t pay anything, but the lawyer is entitled to a percentage of the settlement if your case is successful.

However, if they lose the case, you will not pay the attorney’s fees.

But again, there are other legal costs involved in a worker’s compensation claim. For instance, an eyewitness can cost close to $3,000. Unfortunately, most hurt employees cannot afford this.

This is why you must choose a law firm with financial resources to cover such expenses. Also, law firms with strong financial resources do not charge case management fees.

Check the Attorney’s Credentials

To improve your chances of success, ensure you hire a board-certified workers comp lawyer. Before receiving board certification, lawyers are expected to have several years of experience practicing workers’ comp law.

Again, they are subjected to a peer review and must provide references from local judges and lawyers. The lawyers should also meet the continuing education requirement.

For more details on how to determine a lawyer’s credentials, find more info at reasonoverlaw.com.

Personality and Open communication

When selecting a workers compensation lawyer, it’s not all about qualification and work history. The lawyer’s personality determines whether you will enjoy the experience or not.

It’s essential that you find someone that will make you feel pleasant. After all, you’re looking for someone to offer you support and reassurance over the next few weeks. Only hire a lawyer that’s action-oriented and excited to handle your case.

Open communication is also an important quality you should look for in a lawyer. Although the attorney cannot work on your case round the clock, you still need to talk to them when it’s necessary.

It can be frustrating to be shifted to a secretary or an intern when you have queries about your case. Again, you want to work with an attorney willing to share every bit of information about your case.

Ask For Free Consultation

Normally, workers’ compensation attorneys offer a free consultation to potential clients. The consultation meeting is essential to help you determine the personality of the prospective attorney.

The lawyers are likely to ask various questions about your case but be prepared with counter questions. Strive to understand how they operate and whether they have clarity on your case.

Here is a list of questions you should ask to learn more about the lawyers:

• Who will be handling my case?
• Is primary compensation your primary practice area?
• How many years of experience do you have?
• Can you provide references to previous clients?
• Have you handled similar cases in the past?
• Who will be available to answer my questions?

Before signing above the dotted lines, ensure you feel safe about hiring the lawyer after the consultation.

Boost Your Odds by Hiring a Workers Comp Attorney

When choosing a workers comp attorney, ensure you find someone competent to handle your case. It’s always a good idea to be cautious when making the hiring decision.

Take time to obtain recommendations from friends and family. Honest referrals provide an easy way to determine the best workers’ compensation lawyers near you.

Again, researching on the internet will help you discover potential law firms near you. Follow our tips for hiring a workers comp lawyer today for the best outcome.

For more practical legal advice tips, please see more of our blog posts.