Workers Compensation Lawyers

Where to Find The Right Lawyer

Hiring the right workers compensation lawyer will be critical to your case. You may have seen a lawyer on T.V. that has a really fancy and done up commercial, but most really good attorneys work on referrals and don't spend the money for advertisement. 

Let's first talk about where you may find those referrals. One place to start would be a local union as they have dealt with many worker's compensation cases before. Ask around your friends or family members if any of htem have any attorneys who could recommend a good workers compensation lawyer. 

Thank goodness for the internet because it is amazing how much you can find for lawyers who could represent you in your state. One place where you can find out if the lawyers is registered is the American Bar Association: http://www.abanet.org. The  link takes you right to a map where you can click on your state and then find lawyers even in your county. This can also be done when you find a lawyer you like but want to make sure they are in good standing and don't have any suspensions or have even lost their license completely.   

Many people are researching things on the internet but good old fashion news-papers may also give you a leg up on your search. Has there been some lawyer who has received some publicity about a case similar to yours and maybe won the trial for the client?  

Asking the Right Questions

In any situation you want the best representation that you can find out there. The sooner you file a claim and get a worker's compensation lawyer on your side the better chance you have of winning your case. These next tips are going to give you the questions to find that perfect lawyer to do this.  

In most cases there is no cost involved for a lawyer to take your case which is called a contingency fee. However there may be some administrative costs that you will incur that would either be paid by you or in the settlement. These costs could range anywhere from $50-100 or more and include making copies of the medical records, witness fees, research, or to even pay for court reports.  

Obtain a copy of the retainer agreement and make sure you fully understand what is expected of you and the attorney. Normally, the agreement states that there is a percentage which is set by law that the attorney will take once there is a settlement. Each attorney is different so get everything in writing and always talk about all costs in detail. Use your best judgment when deciding who will represent you.  

Experience with workers compensation cases is something you don't want to overlook when interviewing attorneys. Ask them about how many cases they have tried like yours and what the outcome was. Also ask how positive they feel about your situation and whether they feel they can win the case for you.  

One idea that I have found to be helpful is to go to a court room where workers compensation cases are being tried. Listen to some of the lawyers there and see how they work. Are they good communicators or do they come off quite abrasive? Do they have strong witnesses and good questions? Who knows, you could find just the lawyer you were looking for.  

You may want to know how long your case will take to get settled but this may be a question not easily answered by any lawyer depending on the complexity of the case. For example, are you going to have to have surgery to fix the injury? Can you return to work? These are all factors to keep in mind when asking a question like this to the attorney because the answer may not be readily available.

At the end of the day all that matters is that you feel comfortable with the lawyer and other staff that may work on your case.

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