If you’ve been placed on the injured list and can no longer work, you may decide it’s time to file a disability claim. While you don’t have to have an attorney to apply for disability benefits, it’s a wise decision to hire a professional to help you understand the ins and outs of filing a disability claim. Statistically, those who choose to hire an attorney to help with their disability claim are more likely to be approved for benefits. Continue reading to learn how to find the best disability lawyer for your situation.

Where to Look for a Social Security Disability Representative

An authorized representative doesn’t necessarily have to be a lawyer. Professionals who work for a disability firm or other nonlawyer representatives can also assist with Social Security Disability claims. Sometimes people only decide they need a representative to help them when their initial claim has been denied, and they are filing an appeal.

Others choose to have representation throughout the entire process. Requesting help and hiring someone to perform that task can help increase the likelihood that you will receive approval at the outset. It can be beneficial to hire a firm that can both assist you with completing paperwork and represent you should the need arise.

Various ways of locating a disability firm exists. You could receive a personal recommendation from someone, find a name in a directory, or contact a lawyer referral service. If you choose to use a referral service, ensure that all of its recommendations are active and in good standing with the state’s bar association.

What a Lawyer Can and Can’t Do for You in Athens

You are likely mistaken if you think a lawyer can speed up your appeals process. With or without a lawyer, the process takes time. Remember that a good lawyer won’t make promises of fast approval. A promise to help you meet deadlines, file documents, and ensure you complete everything correctly is the kind of promise a good lawyer can make and keep.

Lawyers can’t make the process faster, and they can’t guarantee a win. You will increase your chances of winning in all likelihood, but an attorney can’t promise they will win your case. Let’s look at some things to keep in mind to help you find the best disability lawyer for you.

Here are some ways a qualified disability attorney can help you.

• The lawyer can review your case to help you determine if you are owed benefits you are being denied.
• They can coordinate with doctors and other professionals to gather evidence to prove you are eligible for benefits.
• Review your medical records and address any inconsistencies or facts that could have caused you issues before.
• Deal with all correspondence between insurance companies and other players in your case. This allows you to focus on your needs as you learn to deal with a disability.

The best disability lawyer for your case will consider all of the specifics of your individual case when determining the game plan for presenting your case. The best way to know how an attorney can actually assist you is to schedule a consultation to discuss the particulars of your case with them.

Professionalism and Courtesy

When calling a potential disability attorney for your case, pay attention to how you are treated by the attorney and staff. Also, pay attention to the professionalism of the staff members you speak with. No matter how busy the attorney is, you should receive timely communication with the opportunity to ask questions.

Access to the Attorney

If you can’t speak to the lawyer the first time you call or if you are directed to speak to a staff member when you have a question, don’t think that means the attorney isn’t interested in your case. Often, on days when disability lawyers are in hearings, their staff will field calls for them. However, the best disability lawyers will schedule a free consultation to discuss your case and their ability to handle it. Don’t be surprised if time constraints cause the consultation to be limited to a set timeframe.

Promised Outcomes

We mentioned earlier that attorney ethics prevent the promise of a specified outcome. Not only is it unethical, but it’s also unfair to you. A good lawyer will review the facts of your case before making an assessment. Once the facts have been reviewed, you will get an honest assessment of the situation.

You should expect honesty from your disability lawyer. A good one will admit they can’t get you approved any faster than you could do on your own. However, they do bring expertise to the situation that you don’t have on your own. They have an intimate knowledge of the laws that govern Social Security Disability claims.

Approval Rates

You should always ask the lawyer you are interviewing (or their staff) about their approval rates. Here are some questions to consider asking:

• What is the firm’s overall approval rate? How does your personal approval rate compare to that of the firm?
• What number of approvals do you have that are at the level of a hearing?
• When looking at your wins, what percentage were granted full benefits?
• Again, looking at your wins, what percentage was granted partial benefits?

The best disability lawyer for your case will be able to share their firm’s statistics with you. Not only that, but they will be willing to do so.

Office and Case Management

The disability firm of your choice should provide you with a contact person that you can reach with questions. The firm should keep in touch regularly. Here are some questions to ask to try to understand how they will manage your case.

• What does your support staff consist of?
• Do you assign case managers to each client?
• What is the ratio of clients to case managers?
• How often will my case manager reach out to give me a progress update on my case?
• Does your firm employ paralegals?
• Will you request my records, or will I be responsible for that?
• Will you advance the cost of the medical records? (Often, firms will do this, but you are required to reimburse them whether you win or lose when your case ends.)

Attorney Credentials

You don’t have to have a licensed attorney represent you at a disability hearing. Your representative doesn’t even have to be an attorney at all. However, if you want someone who has an understanding of Social Security law, you will want to hire a licensed, experienced Social Security Disability lawyer.

Lawyers receive specialized training in reading and interpreting statutes and case law. If your case should ever reach a federal appeals level, your attorney must be licensed to practice law in federal court. Here are some questions you can ask to learn more about the lawyer’s level of expertise.

• How long have you practiced disability law?
• Are you licensed in every state where you practice?
• How many cases do you deal with each year?
• Do you ever participate in additional training?
• How long have you practiced law in this area?

You may wonder why you want to ask how long the lawyer has been practicing in a particular area. A disability lawyer who has worked in the same area for a length of time knows the administrative law judges (ALJs) who could hear the case. Some ALJs approach their decision-making from a place of bias, and an attorney who knows the  ALJ will know how to adjust their argument to surpass that bias.

Special Knowledge of Your Condition

Some cases may be more difficult to argue because of the condition on which they are based. Those who suffer from mental illness or alcohol or drug abuse can have a particularly challenging time with a disability claim. The best disability lawyer for your case will willingly discuss their approach to handling any special circumstance you might be dealing with.

Children’s Cases

Cases involving children are handled differently than adult cases. Not all firms will accept cases involving children, and the ones that do may not have much experience handling them. If the case you’re filing is on behalf of a child, ensure that the lawyer has the knowledge, experience, and resources to handle those cases dealing with childhood disability. If your lawyer is willing to take the case, ask them about their approval rating for childhood disability cases.

References

Request references or testimonials from past clients. Some firms are willing to provide them, while others aren’t. The best disability lawyer for you will be open to sharing references and testimonials with you.

Get in Touch with Our Experienced Disability Attorneys Immediately

While you don’t have to have an attorney in your corner to apply for disability benefits, it can be helpful to hire a lawyer to help you. The best disability lawyer for your case is one who knows disability statutes and case laws and has experience in the field and the local area. Choosing the best disability lawyer for you doesn’t have to be as difficult as you might think it is.

The best way to choose the best disability lawyer for you is to ask them questions about their credentials and expertise and how they plan to handle your case. If you have questions about filing for disability in Georgia, contact Morgan & Morgan at (706) 843-2905. Schedule your consultation with a disability lawyer today!

Related Post: When Do I Hire a Disability Lawyer?