If you’ve suffered a work-related injury or illness, it’s normally wise to seek legal advice and to hire an attorney to handle your workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ compensation law is highly complex and specialized, so obtaining legal advice from a specialist in workers’ compensation lawyer is an important step to assuring that you are protected.
Here are three things to consider when selecting the best Phoenix workers compensation lawyer for your case.
Experience
Do a little background research in order to ascertain the experience level of your Phoenix workers compensation lawyer. Your workers’ compensation attorney should have years of experience, in-depth knowledge of workers’ compensation and should demonstrate attention to detail when giving you legal advice.
A good indicator of a firm’s expertise-level is that its website contains articles or other information specifically relevant to workers’ compensation law.
Transparency Regarding Fees
Ask prospective lawyers to explain how attorneys’ fees are charged. In workers’ compensation cases, attorneys’ fees are often percentage-based (usually 25% of the money obtained – although this can vary based upon many factors). Also ask for estimated costs, including court reporter fees, expert witness fees, copying fees and whether or not they are your financial responsibility.
A good workers’ compensation attorney will often agree to advance costs and to then recover those expenses out of your award or settlement . Your lawyer should make it clear whether or not such fees will be waived in the event that you lose your case.
Professionalism
Phoenix workers’ compensation lawyers typically offer an initial no fee consultation, which may take place in person or over the telephone. Make the most of this free consultation and treat it like a job interview for the lawyer, asking important questions of him or her, such as:
- How many years has the firm been handling workers’ compensation claims?
- How much of the practice is devoted to workers’ compensation?
- Can the firm provide references from other workers’ compensation cases or from legal colleagues?
- How does a workers’ compensation claim proceed through the system?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of my case?
You want to work with an attorney who is respectful, patient and inspires you with confidence in his or her ability as well as having a capacity to effectively listen to your concerns.
If possible, consider the demeanor of the staff as a whole too, because you will probably be interacting with more team members over the life of your workers’ compensation claim.
Also, consider if the firm is able to offer services in related areas, such as Social Security Disability and long-term disability law so that all related services can be provided by one firm.
If you are in need of a workers’ compensation lawyer in Phoenix, AZ, let us help you- contact us today!
