Jun 17, 2013 · Update Your Profile. Answered on Jun 17th, 2013 at 7:29 PM. Yes, you may sue your lawyer. Will you win? You will have to prove that their actions caused your injuries. They can defend that their actions did not. You likely will go to trial. If you do this, get an attorney.
Dec 28, 2012 · And yes, you can sue your lawyer. However, in proving the malpractice case, you will have to prove the underlying workers compensation case. Get a malpractice specialist; many lawyers don't like to handle them because they feel that everyone will be "gunning for them" if they handle those cases. But if you are persistent, you will find someone.
May 06, 2013 · Failing to have workers comp insurance may be a violation of state law and your employer can incur hefty fines. ... Discussing your case with a workers compensation lawyer if you wish to take your case outside of the workers compensation system is crucial. ... If you have been injured on the job in Missouri and have questions about your legal ...
Dec 31, 2011 · You always have the right to terminate your attorney if you are dissatisfied with the representation. If you have presented your problems to him and he has ignored them then this is the action you should take. You may first want to run your case by another WC attorney in your state for possible options. A defamation case is very difficult.
An attorney can help you to determine what will be appropriate in your particular situation and if there are additional government benefits you can obtain like Social Security disability insurance. To find out more about what is appropriate for your situation, contact a workers’ compensation attorney.
In some cases you can bring a personal injury lawsuit against your employer if you were injured because of his or her egregious or intentional conduct. Some states allow you to sue your employer if he or she intentionally hurt you.
However, there are some exceptions where you can sue for damages.
If your employer does not have workers compensation insurance at all, you can sue your employer in civil court. Having workers compensation insurance protects employers from employees taking civil action against them. Failing to have workers comp insurance may be a violation of state law and your employer can incur hefty fines.
Workers compensation is usually sufficient to compensate you for your injuries, get you the treatment that you need in order to recover, and get you back to work. But when it comes to temporary and permanent disability, workers compensation oftentimes is not enough. It does not provide compensation for pain and suffering or punish an employer ...
Defective Product - If you were injured by a defective product, you may be able to sue the manufacturer of the product in a products liability suit. If a product is inherently dangerous or failed to work properly because of a defect, the manufacturer should be held responsible for your injury, especially if they failed to issue a proper warning ...
Workers’ Compensation - When Can You Sue? When you are injured at work, the compensation you can receive is usually limited to workers compensation benefits, which cover medical expenses, and lost wages, but not pain and suffering. However, there are some exceptions where you can sue for damages. It is important to understand your rights ...
Here are the most common intentional torts: Battery - injury to your person , i.e. you have been hit by someone or something. Assault - an attempted battery, or the threat to commit a battery. False Imprisonment - confinement against your will, without legal authority.
Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress - you have been emotionally traumatized by truly terrible conduct. Fraud - someone lied to you and it caused you to suffer injury. Defamation - when someone says something false about you and it causes you harm, including libel and slander.
This is known as a no-fault system . However, there are some important exceptions.
Generally, you are barred from suing your employer for a workplace injury. This is because when employers provide workers' compensation insurance for the benefit of their employees, they are typically protected from defending personal injury claims brought by those employees.
Most of what the attorney said was opinion which is not defamatory. Also libel is for written statements not oral ones. Also if you are in fact difficult which many are then it is not defamatory. Apart from all that, the statements must be published to a third party and cause you harm.
Your first step is to try contacting your attorney, and more than twice a decade is actually OK. Next step is to try finding a NEW attorney to represent you, so it does not drag into Year 13. Honestly, all WC Attorneys are busy but that is no excuse for ignoring your reasonable requests.
I am so sorry that this has happened to you. I see many things in your question that really concern me as a lawyer. Please know that I am licensed in Pennsylvania so I cannot comment on your specific question. But I can tell you some things in general that might help you...
You always have the right to terminate your attorney if you are dissatisfied with the representation. If you have presented your problems to him and he has ignored them then this is the action you should take. You may first want to run your case by another WC attorney in your state for possible options. A defamation case is very difficult.
There are certain lawyers that specialize in workers’ comp claims and claims that are similar to work comp. Some attorneys simply do not know how to bring a workers’ compensation case. You need to find an attorney that has experience with work compensation and can get you a favorable settlement or outcome at your hearing.
While it is true that lawyers are busy people, they should always treat you like a priority—because you are! If you find that your attorney is not responsive enough or is not answering your questions, then it might be time to find an attorney that will.
Balance billing is entirely illegal, yet so many people aren’t aware that it occurs. It’s a practice where a medical provider may attempt to try and bill a patient for the difference between what the insurance company has paid them and the amount they would usually bill a patient who will not have any insurance in place.
It does not cost you anything. The workers’ compensation insurer will have to pay your attorney’s fees, fully and inclusively. So if you’re sure you have the right insurance when the comp refuses to pay, you’ve got nothing to lose by using—or at least speaking to—an attorney.
State law governs attorneys' fees in workers' compensation cases, and many states set a cap on the percentage and/or total amount they can charge—usually from 10% to 20% of the benefits. When more than one attorney has worked on your case, the lawyers split that fee according to how much work each has performed.
A good workers' comp attorney is a zealous advocate, not a passive observer. You are well within your rights to inquire (in a non-confrontational manner) precisely what steps your lawyer has taken to advocate on your behalf. Has she written a letter to your employer or the workers' comp insurer?
If your lawyer is unavailable when you call, request that a phone conference or in-office meeting be scheduled. Make it clear at your next meeting that you expect better communication. Your attorney should listen to your concerns and take steps to improve communication in the future.
If your lawyer is unavailable when you call, request that a phone conference or in-office meeting be scheduled.
If you're not confident that your lawyer has a solid grasp of the legal issues in your case, you'd be well-advised to look for a new one. Before you hire a replacement, make sure that attorney regularly handles workers' comp cases and can explain the relevant issues to you.
Attorneys who don't specialize in workers' comp tend not to understand the nuances of this complex field of law. If you're not confident that your lawyer has a solid grasp of the legal issues in your case, you'd be well-advised to look for a new one. Before you hire a replacement, make sure that attorney regularly handles workers' comp cases and can explain the relevant issues to you. Ask for references from former clients or other attorneys if you have any doubt.
Reporting regulations and deadlines vary from state to state, but it should typically take no longer than 30 days to complete this process.
A lawyer will file the paperwork on time, build your case, negotiate with the insurance company and draft a settlement, if one is agreed on. If it’s not, you’re headed for a hearing.
An attorney not only will prepare your argument, he or she will prepare you to say the right things in testimony. They also will cross-examine the insurance company’s witnesses. That job should not be left up to amateurs. Unlike civil cases, workers compensation law has a safety net of sort.
When an employee represents himself or herself, the settlement is not final until the judge approves it. They can reject the settlement if they feel it’s not reasonable and the employee is getting a raw deal. But the settlement usually has to be grossly unfair for a judge to reject it.
You plan file for Social Security disability benefits – Those benefits, known as SSDI , may be reduced by workers comp benefits. A lawyer can structure your settlement to minimize or eliminate the offset. Your employer retaliates against you – If you are fired, demoted, have your hours cut or are pressured to return to work too soon, ...