If you have suffered a serious injury in your workplace, you might be considering hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer.
10 Questions You Must Ask Before Hiring Workers’ Comp Lawyer
A workers’ compensation lawyer will make sure you receive the maximum possible compensation including all the benefits you are entitled to receive.
However not all lawyers have the same level of expertise, so it is important you choose a lawyer who has experience dealing with cases like yours.
Given below are some questions you must ask before hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer.
1. Do I Need a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Not every injured worker needs to hire a worker’s compensation lawyer.
If your injuries are very minor and they require little to no treatment, you won’t need to hire a lawyer.
However, if your injuries are severe and you won’t be able to work for a period of time, you are better off hiring a lawyer who will help you receive the benefits you are entitled to.
2. How Many Workers’ Compensation Cases Have You Handled Before?
It is always recommended to hire a lawyer who has had experience dealing with many workers’ compensation cases.
An experienced workers’ compensation lawyer will be able to predict the outcome of your case especially if he has handled cases that were similar to yours.
If he has a success rate of at least 90%, you can go ahead and hire him.
3. Do You Have Experience Taking Cases to Court?
In some situations, your case will have to be taken to court if everything else fails and you don’t receive the compensation you deserve.
In this case, you have to make sure your lawyer has taken cases to trial before and has resolved most of them. Ask your lawyer about his experience with court cases.
4. Do You Handle Work Injury Claims?
The difference between a workers’ compensation case and a personal injury case is that you won’t receive any benefits for pain and suffering in the former case.
If a third party or your employer has been involved in your injury, you can file a personal injury claim.
Ask your lawyer if he handles work injury claims. If he doesn’t have significant experience in this area, you should hire a good healthcare work injury attorney.
5. How Much Do You Charge?
The majority of workers’ compensation lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. The rate is usually 15-20% of your settlement amount.
If you don’t receive any benefits, your lawyer won’t get paid. In some cases, lawyers are compensated by the hour. You usually won’t have to pay anything upfront.
Your lawyer should be able to give you a direct answer to this question.
6. What Benefits Am I Entitled to Receive?
A successful workers’ compensation claim covers medical expenses, a portion of your lost wages, and rehabilitation.
If you are unable to work for more than 3 days, you are entitled to receive temporary disability benefits.
If your injuries are severe and prevent you from working for a long period of time, you might be entitled to receive long-term disability benefits.
7. What if the Accident Was My Fault?
If you get injured, you are usually entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits even if the accident was your fault.
If you were involved in experimenting with drugs and alcohol or you got injured because you started a physical fight with someone, you won’t receive any benefits.
8.Should I See the Doctor Prescribed by My Company?
In many states, you are required to see the doctor which is prescribed by your employer or company board.
In some states, you can see a separate doctor after initial consultation with your company doctor. Depending upon your state, your lawyer will be able to tell you whether you can visit a separate doctor.
9. Should I Return to Work?
You can return to work if your injuries don’t stop you from doing so.
If your injuries prevent you from performing all your duties, your employer should give you a lighter workload that doesn’t aggravate your injuries.
10. When Will I Receive My Benefits?
No lawyer will be able to provide an accurate answer to this question.
Depending upon your case, your lawyer might give you an approximate timeline within which you might receive your benefits.
Conclusion
Apart from the above questions, you can also ask any other question you want an answer to. A good lawyer will be cooperative and answer all your questions patiently.
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