How to choose a workers compensation attorney?

Find out what you need to look for when searching for a work injury attorney and how you should prepare for the consultation.

Be aware of your rights. Make informed decisions.

According to BLS (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), work-related injuries and illnesses had increased by 32.4% in 2020, compared to the previous year. And although this statistic includes COVID-19 pandemic-related conditions, virus-related cases only represent a quarter of this massive number increase. If you or someone you know suffers a work injury or needs to file for a workers compensation claim, it’s essential to understand how you can make the most out of it.

Worker’s compensation is a complex area of the law, with specific deadlines and legal standards that can be genuinely complicated. After an accident, you should focus on gaining a speedy recovery instead of dedicating your time and energy to solving legal issues. If you’re in need of guidance and legal representation regarding the compensation process, an experienced lawyer makes up for a great choice to help you along.

What should you consider when hiring a work injury attorney?

Filing a worker’s compensation claim does not seem like a big deal. However, considering the stress of the accident and a not-so-friendly insurance company, the process can get complicated. It’s easy to make a mistake that could get your claim denied or settled for a lot less than its worth. Therefore, an attorney specializing in this field with a broad understanding of the law is likely to be a valuable asset. In order to ensure you’re getting the most out of your collaboration with a workers compensation attorney, you must ensure that you choose a professional that can and will offer you the proper representation.

Here’s what you should be looking at:

1. Recommendations, reviews, and client testimonials

Usually, the best place to start is by asking your friends, neighbors, or work colleagues if they have worked with a work injury attorney before. However, given the fact that most cases are different from each other, you should try to settle for someone with more experience in that specific field. As an extra source of information, you can also check the state or local bar associations.

2.Primary practice area(s)

As you probably already know, lawyers can focus on different specific areas of a certain field. It’s important that you choose an attorney whose work is exclusively or primarily focused on workers’ compensation claims. More specific area experience means more cases similar to yours that have been won so far.

3. Successful track record

When researching your workers compensation attorney choice, make sure you check out their success rate or ask about similar previous cases. However, you should keep in mind that not all attorneys can declare their success rates due to certain laws. Nevertheless, you can always ask.

4. Health-focused approach

After suffering a work accident, your main priority should be to get your medical and recovery costs taken care of. Therefore, you should opt for a lawyer that is willing to stand up to the insurance company whenever they may try to deny your treatments. They will be there to ensure you’ll receive the best medical care possible.

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We’re here to ensure you’re receiving the right treatment and yield all the benefits you’re entitled to. Schedule a free consultation with a workers compensation attorney and get professional representation with the personal attention you deserve.

How to prepare for an interview with a worker’s compensation lawyer?

Your first consultation with a work injury attorney should go in two directions. Your attorney will examine and assess your case. In the meantime, you should also try to determine whether they seem like a good fit for your case or not. Below, we’ve prepared a list of questions that you could ask your attorney over the first meeting:

How many workers’ compensation cases have you handled so far?
Have you represented anyone with a similar injury?
What is your total success rate on these cases?
Who will be handling my case?
Will I have access to answers from my attorney regarding any questions and concerns?
How long will it take to resolve my case?
What is your fee, and how do I pay?
What kind of resources do you bring in if the case goes to trial?

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Our worker compensation attorneys specialize in this type of work and hold plenty of experience handling cases just like yours. See if you qualify and schedule a free consultation in minutes.

How much does it cost to hire a workers’ compensation attorney?

In many cases, people who suffered a work injury are reluctant to hire a work injury attorney because they are already out of work, without an income, and worried about losing their case. This does not come as a surprise, and in most cases, it may even seem like a wise choice.

However, at Visionary Law Group, we’re aware of the fears, needs, and circumstances of people going through a compensation process. Therefore, when working with us, you don’t need to worry about paying anything until your case is won. We work what is called as Contingency Free. When you hire a lawyer on a contingency fee plan, you pay nothing until your case is settled. If we don’t win, you don’t pay.

If you win your case and are awarded a settlement, a lawyer hired on a contingency basis will recoup their fees from the settlement. The fee usually makes up 15% or 30% of the total amount.

Does it matter if the work injury was my fault?

Normally, that should not be a pain point for your case. If you deliberately injured yourself or came to work intoxicated, you may be denied benefits. However, in most other circumstances, you should be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. The state of California has a no-fault rule – meaning even if the accident was ultimately your fault, you can still claim it under workers comp. Your lawyer should be able to give you more details regarding this at the beginning of your case.

What happens if my workers’ compensation claim gets denied?

Even if you had filed the claim on your own and it got denied, you can still try to regain your benefits. Sometimes, a small error in paperwork might result in a denial of your claim. Keep in mind that your paperwork must be filled in a correct manner and submitted in a 30-days timeline.

When you opt for professional representation, your work injury attorney should go through every aspect and detail of your claim in order to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. They will scan your paperwork for any eventual errors and help you collect any additional information that may be relevant to the case. When it comes to cases like this, the experience can really be the key factor that determines a positive outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get fired for filing a workers’ compensation claim?

In some cases, employees are afraid to file for their worker’s compensation benefits thinking they might lose their jobs as a consequence. You should know that it is illegal for your employer to punish or fire you for sustaining a job injury. The same thing applies to requesting the worker’s compensation benefits whenever you believe that your injury was caused by your job.

My first claim was denied. What should I do now?

As stated above, if your initial claim has been denied, it can be due to a minor error in the paperwork. You can schedule a free consultation with our professional work accident attorney, that will guide you through the entire claim process.

What is your experience with work accident cases?

Over the last three years, we handled over 350 cases. Additionally, we have gained over ten years of experience handling work accidents claims and trials.

Do you offer a free case evaluation?

Yes. All you need to do is complete this 30-second survey to find out if your case qualifies. After that, we’ll schedule a 30-minutes call to further discuss your situation and talk about your needs. Keep in mind that we work on contingency fees, which means you don’t pay anything until your case is settled. If we do not win, you don’t have to pay any fee.

What if my injury leads to secondary symptoms or other ramifications?

In case your injury leads to secondary symptoms, those need to be evaluated and discussed separately.

I have some questions that are not on this list. Who do I talk to?

We’re always here to answer your questions. Click here to contact us or here to schedule a meeting. If you are unsure of your case qualifies, complete this form to find out.