As good law-abiding citizens that we are, our interaction with lawyers is usually very minimal. However, with the increase of accident claim companies coming to the forefront of the media, having a good worker's compensation lawyer onside if you are unfortunate enough to have an accident in the workplace is a smart idea. With the bad press that compensation lawyers tend to get, where do you start when choosing a firm to represent you if the situation ever arises?
A Good Lawyer Is The Best Compensation - The best and most convenient method of finding a good compensation lawyer is clearly through word of mouth from people you trust. If you have previously used a lawyer for other legal matters, such as buying a new property or helping with your taxes, get in touch and find out if they could recommend any particular firms. Try and get the name of two or three - as law is a fairly small community this shouldn't be too challenging - then set up a free consultation.
Before you head into the consultation, do research on each compensation lawyer so you'll be armed with the relevant questions. Find information about the lawyer's background in worker's compensation law and their biographical information. The firm's website, your state's licensing agency and now even sites such as LinkedIn are good sources for this.
During the consultation, find out what level of experience the lawyer has with workers' compensation and how many of the previous cases they have won. Don't lose site of your end goal - to receive a payout for your claim. Therefore it is imperative you feel comfortable with the attorney, and have the impression that he or she can bring resolution to your case.
Also ask each lawyer for a retainer agreement and references, which should include clients and other lawyers. This will provide valuable information to ensure you feel confident about the person who is representing you. Probe the lawyer about the retainer agreement. Attorney's fees are usually set by state law and are based on a portion of the amount you recover, plus costs, so you won't be facing a retainer fee. Ask about estimated costs, such as court reporters, copying and expert witness fees.
The hope is that you will never require a worker's compensation lawyer, but the reality is you may. Being well informed before choosing your compensation lawyer is vitally important as this will give you the optimum chance of winning the case.
A Good Lawyer Is The Best Compensation - The best and most convenient method of finding a good compensation lawyer is clearly through word of mouth from people you trust. If you have previously used a lawyer for other legal matters, such as buying a new property or helping with your taxes, get in touch and find out if they could recommend any particular firms. Try and get the name of two or three - as law is a fairly small community this shouldn't be too challenging - then set up a free consultation.
Before you head into the consultation, do research on each compensation lawyer so you'll be armed with the relevant questions. Find information about the lawyer's background in worker's compensation law and their biographical information. The firm's website, your state's licensing agency and now even sites such as LinkedIn are good sources for this.
During the consultation, find out what level of experience the lawyer has with workers' compensation and how many of the previous cases they have won. Don't lose site of your end goal - to receive a payout for your claim. Therefore it is imperative you feel comfortable with the attorney, and have the impression that he or she can bring resolution to your case.
Also ask each lawyer for a retainer agreement and references, which should include clients and other lawyers. This will provide valuable information to ensure you feel confident about the person who is representing you. Probe the lawyer about the retainer agreement. Attorney's fees are usually set by state law and are based on a portion of the amount you recover, plus costs, so you won't be facing a retainer fee. Ask about estimated costs, such as court reporters, copying and expert witness fees.
The hope is that you will never require a worker's compensation lawyer, but the reality is you may. Being well informed before choosing your compensation lawyer is vitally important as this will give you the optimum chance of winning the case.