If you have been hurt at work, it’s your duty to seek out any compensation you may be owed by your employer. Workers’ compensation is a very complicated area of the law, so it’s highly recommended that you seek out an attorney that specializes in this field. Finding the right lawyer can be tricky, so let’s go over some strategies to help you along the way.
Go Online
Make no mistake, the Internet is a powerful tool for finding legal resources. But it’s on you to do a deep-dive on any firm and do your research. When browsing firms online, it’s important you look for ones that specialize in job injury and workers’ compensation. There are lots of law firms out there that handle many different types of cases, including on-the-job injuries, but is that something they specialize in? Say, for example, you’re getting your home HVAC system renovated. Would you rather hire a contractor that does a lot of different home repairs, but a mediocre job? Or would you rather find a specialized HVAC contractor who only does the type of work you’re looking for? Your likely answer is the specialist, because you want the most value and return-on-investment for your dollar. This is especially true if you’ve suffered an on-the-job injury and your future health and wellness are on the line. So use the Internet wisely and make sure you do your research and that any prospective firms emphasize workers’ compensation law.
Ask Around
Your other option for finding the right workers’ compensation attorney is to simply ask around. Take some time and find out if any of your coworkers have been hurt on the job. Ask them who they consulted about their claim. It’s no different than asking your friends to recommend a primary care doctor. Often times, good on-the-job injury attorneys will do little in the way of advertising. A lot of their business is built around word of mouth referrals so be sure to use your friends and coworkers in your search
Interview Them
Let’s say you’ve gone online and asked around, and you now have a shortlist of candidates. The next step is a consultation to make sure you two are a good fit. Think of the consultation as a job interview, except you are hiring them. Any good workers’ compensation attorney will certainly be asking you endless questions about your case. But you need to ask just as many. Below are some basic questions that you should be asking any job injury attorney.
- How long they have been in the workers’ compensation practice
- How much of their firm is devoted to handling on-the-job injury claims
- If they can provide real references and testimonials to their success
- If they represent both sides of workers’ compensation cases, meaning employers AND employees hurt at work
These are just some of the many questions you should be asking any attorney in this field. The bottom line is that you’re looking for experience, dedication, and personal attention to your case. Make sure you leverage all resources available to you when your searching for the right workers’ compensation lawyer. The Internet is often the go-to tool, but don’t forget to ask your friends, coworkers, and family. Getting hurt at work is a serious issue, and you need to ensure that your claim is handled properly. That all starts with the right lawyer.