Getting compensated after suffering from an injury at your workplace will likely require you to file a workers’ compensation claim. However, it isn’t as easy as it may seem, and many companies, including city employers many times will try to sidestep their responsibility. Workers’ compensation law is complex, so it is important to well represent by an attorney who specializes in workplace injury.
Get recommendations –
Contact your relatives, friends, and
colleagues to get some recommendations of a good workers' compensation
attorney. If you can find an attorney that someone you trust recommends, it
makes your task easier.
Do a bit of research –
If you had no luck in finding a good
referral from friends and family, then you’ll need to do your own research and
find a workers' compensation lawyer on your own. You can search (Google, yahoo,
AOL and others) on the Internet and quickly build a list. But also check law
directories, like superlawyers.com or injuredworkersbar.org
There are many firms that provide
legal assistance in filing a workers' compensation claim, but you want to find
a law firm that ‘specializes’ in Workers’ Compensation. Most of the leading
firms work on contingency, meaning that if they don’t win your case, it costs
you nothing.
Once you have your shortlist, cross
check it with Better Business Bureau and consumer complaint boards to see if there
are complaints about them and if there are, were they resolved, how quickly,
and was it satisfactory to both parties? Remember that anyone can list a
complaint, which doesn’t automatically mean the law firm should be written off.
Ask for references –
When you’ve shortlisted a few
attorneys you have to meet with them, face to face. This is an interview pure
and simple. They will be assessing the strength of your case, and you need to
assess whether you want them to represent you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
What percentage of their legal workload is injury-related cases? What is their
win-loss percentage with injury cases? Do they have previous clients they can
provide as references? What is their process -- ask them to walk you through
it; then assess how competent you feel they are.
