If you incur injuries at your workplace, it is best to hire a workers’ compensation attorney to help you with your claim. As a worker, you need to know the benefits you are entitled to for compensation. Hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer ensures you succeed in the trial. They have the best legal knowledge and can handle any worker’s compensation case. As a result, you need to be keen and precise about the kind of attorney you hire. The attorney should be experienced and the best at what they do.
Below are essential factors to consider when choosing a workers’ compensation attorney.
- Working experience
Experience is critical in any legal proceeding. It would be best if you considered how many clients with similar cases as yours the lawyer has represented. Look at the success rate. If the success rate is higher, then the attorney might be what you need to win your claim. Inquire about the number of cases that have gone to trial. The more cases the attorney has handled in court, the better equipped they are. Experienced workers’ compensation attorneys know the ins and outs of the processes to ensure their clients get the best compensation.
- Knowledge of the law and medical complexities
Look for an attorney with vast legal knowledge. The attorney should be able to notice the slightest legal details that can prove helpful in the proceedings. In addition, the attorney should easily understand the medical aspects of your case. Some cases are usually physical injuries, while others are mental. The attorney should be able to tell the type of injury and work closely with the medical professionals to get the required medical reports to win your case. If the injury is unique, an Everett workers’ comp attorney should have the experience of dealing with those kinds of injury and be ready to build a strong case for you to receive the best settlement.
- Reputation
Ask around to see what kind of reputation the attorney has. If the lawyer has a good reputation, i.e. high success rate in getting past clients the fair and just compensation they deserve, you will feel more confident about the outcome of your case. You can also ask around for recommendations from family and friends and to help the process of choosing a lawyer much more comfortable. This is because your friends and family will give you unbiased information about the lawyer and also provide relevant referrals.
- Legal fees
Most workers’ compensation lawyers offer a free consultation. During the consultation, make a point to inquire how the legal fees are structured. Also, ask about the expenses that might be incurred during the litigation process. Almost all workers’ compensation attorneys work on contingency fees; they take a permitted percentage of your settlement when you win the case, and you pay nothing when you don’t win the case. However, other firms charge on hourly rates. It is essential to have the right information about the lawyer’s fee before hiring a lawyer.
- Legal strategy
Some cases require an aggressive approach and might require litigation. Give your attorney an overview of your case during the consultation process. The attorney should outline the possible strategy and potential complications during the proceedings. Pay attention to their assessment of the outcome of the case. The attorney should not be afraid to go to trial to obtain the fair compensation you are entitled to. Thus you should consider asking how many cases the attorney has settled without going to trial.
Conclusion
There are many workers’ compensation attorneys, thus choosing the right one might prove challenging. It is crucial for a workers’ comp attorney to represent you zealously to get you the compensation you deserve. You should look at the attributes mentioned above to ensure you get the best workers’ compensation attorney to represent your case.