What To Look For In A Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Brian O Sutter
Accident Lawyers
When you have suffered a serious work-related injury or illness, it is typically a good idea to have a lawyer around to help you through the workers’ compensation process. Since workers’ compensation law is complicated and highly specialized, it is best for clients to find an attorney with an expertise in the subject rather than someone who just dabbles in it. However, it isn’t always so easy to distinguish a workers’ compensation expert from the dabblers. You hear the commercials and see the ads, but they often have more style than actual substance. While it can take some extra effort to find the right lawyer for your needs, it can make all the difference in the success of your case.
Ask For Recommendations
The best workers’ compensation lawyers often don’t need to do any advertising and instead rely on word of mouth and referrals. So when looking for an attorney, start asking around. Ask friends, family, and colleagues for recommendations. You might also be able to contact state and local bar associations and legal aid offices for referrals as well.
Search The Internet
In this digital age it has become increasingly common for injured or ill workers to search the World Wide Web for workers’ compensation lawyers. If your prospective attorney has a website, check it out to see if it emphasizes workers’ compensation expertise or what kind of cases they typically handle. Does the website contain any testimonials from former clients? Do they provide articles or any other kind of information about workers’ compensation law? While you can’t base your choice of lawyer by their website alone, it can be a great place to begin your search.
Treat The Initial Consultation As Your Lawyer’s Job Interview
Just about every workers’ compensation attorney offers free initial consultations with their prospective clients, including our lawyers at All Injuries Law Firm. While this does give your lawyer a chance to ask you questions about your claim, it is also a chance for you to ask your attorney questions as well. Here are just a few example questions to help get you started:
- How many years have you been handling workers’ compensation claims?
- How much of your practice is committed to workers’ compensation?
- Will you be able to represent me throughout the workers’ compensation process, including administrative hearings and appeals?
- Will you be personally handling my case or will there be legal assistants doing most of the bulk work?
- Are you currently a member of any professional organizations within the field of workers’ compensation law?
- Could you explain how the workers’ compensation claim process works?
- Will I be charged for any litigation related expenses, and if so, what kind of expenses would that include?
- Will I still be charged even if my claim is unsuccessful?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of my case?
Find An Attorney Who Treats You With Respect And Inspires Confidence
No matter how good a lawyer’s ratings may be or whether they were personally recommended by a good friend, it isn’t worth it if they don’t treat you with respect or inspire your confidence. Luckily, the initial consultation is often a great way to evaluate their professionalism and witness how they treat their client. You can expect a quality lawyer to answer all your questions with patience and will listen to and address any concerns you may have.
Even if it takes a few tries, it will be well worth it to have a lawyer you can believe in and who believes in you.
In addition, we’d recommend paying attention to the attitudes and behavior of their staff as well. If you find that the secretaries, legal assistances, or paralegals are rude or dismissive, it can often be a sign that this attorney is simply not worth your time.