how to select a workers comp attorney

When evaluating workers’ comp attorneys, consider the following factors:

• Experience:You want an attorney with many years of experience working with workers’ compensation claims. ...
• Knowledge:Look for a lawyer who knows about your particular injury. ...
• Success:No lawyer should ever guarantee you a successful outcome in your workers’ compensation claim. ...
• Communication:As an injured employee, you want answers. ...

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Treat the Consultation Like a Job Interview

Hiring a lawyer is a major investment and you want to make sure they’re right for the job. Take advantage of the free consultation by understanding their credentials. Additionally, you’ll want to find out if you will feel comfortable working with them.

Find an Attorney Who Will Let You Speak to Past Clients

Another part of the hiring process is asking for references.

Research Local Attorneys Online Before Making Any Decisions

If you’ve suffered a work-related injury or illness, you could be entitled to compensation. Whether it be in the form of wage reimbursement, disability benefits, medical benefits, or another form of entitlement, a workers’ compensation attorney can advocate on your behalf.

Look for attorneys with credentials, too

One key mark of quality in a workers’ compensation attorney is membership in professional organizations focused on protecting injured workers’ rights, such as the Workers’ Injury Law & Advocacy Group (WILG) and the Workers’ Compensation Section of the American Association for Justice (AAJ).

The right attorney will ask plenty of questions

Effective workers’ compensation attorneys are detail-oriented and know how to get to the bottom of complex cases. That starts with your initial consultation. We need to know how the injury happened, what your symptoms are, and what your medical prognosis is.

Come prepared to ask the attorney questions, too

A consultation with a workers’ compensation attorney is meant to be a two-way street. The attorney will assess your potential case, but you should also assess the attorney and determine whether they’re the right fit for your case. Some of the questions you should ask in a consultation include:

Feel free to talk to more than one law firm

Especially if you have a permanent injury, workers’ compensation can be a lengthy and challenging process that will involve many candid conversations with your attorney. You need to be sure that you are comfortable talking to your lawyer and confident that they will act in your best interests.

Look for Recommendations, Reviews, and Testimonials

With many lawyers relying on word of mouth to get referrals, the best place to start your search is with family, friends, or colleagues.

Research Attorneys Online

Online sites allow users to review everything from ice cream shops to travel agents—that means lawyers, too. Sites like Avvo have extensive lawyers directories nationwide, spanning all practice areas. Using these sites is a nice way to collect extra information to supplement personal referrals.

Go with Your Gut Instinct During the Consultation

The most important step in this process is the consultation. Even great websites and shining reviews can be useless if the lawyer just doesn’t feel right after meeting face-to-face.

Decision Time: Can the Attorney Get the Job Done?

Walking away from the consultation, do you feel confident? Assured that the lawyer in question can get the job done? Meet with several lawyers to avoid making a snap decision.

What should a workers comp lawyer do?

Your workers’ comp defense attorney must be able to intelligently communicate with you about the application of recent and historical legal principles to your specific case . He or she should keep abreast of the ever-changing and fast-paced world of workers’ compensation through proper training, continuing education, giving and attending presentations and industry conferences, reading legal treatises and participating in industry forums, writing pleadings and articles, etc.

What Can Help Your Workers’ Comp Defense Attorney Help With Your Case?

How can you give your workers’ comp defense attorney the best running start before passing the baton? Your attorney will need to review, evaluate and analyze the following: