Injuries at work can have long-reaching consequences for your financial situation. Whether you cannot work temporarily or permanently, you should learn what worker’s compensation benefits apply to your situation. If you’re facing a worker’s compensation case, don’t face it alone. Instead, find the best worker’s compensation lawyer for your case and enlist their help.

What Is Worker’s Compensation? 

Workers’ compensation protects you should you get hurt or become sick on the job. Most US states require employers to provide workers’ compensation benefits. These insurance benefits provide workers with security while recovering from injuries or illnesses.

Workers’ compensation is a federal program designed to allow workers the opportunity to heal appropriately from an injury or illness and return to work. The workers’ compensation program protects dependents in the unfortunate tragic circumstances of the death on the job. Employers also benefit from providing workers’ compensation insurance as it helps to keep them from being sued by an employee who was injured at work.

Workers are covered by workers’ compensation policies beginning their first day on the job. Workers are covered even if they are working off-site for their employer-provided any accident occurs while they are performing duties that benefit the company. A workers’ compensation policy won’t cover volunteers, independent contractors, and customers frequenting a business.

Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Athens

Workers’ compensation settlements cover several benefits, which include the following:

• Medical treatment includes any treatments or procedures that are required due to the injury.
• Temporary disability includes wage loss benefits for an employee unable to work due to an injury.
• Permanent partial disability means that the employee has limited abilities to continue to work after an injury, and their benefits reflect their level of disability.
• Permanent total disability means the employee cannot return to work.

If you’ve sustained a permanent total disability while at work, it’s crucial that you contact a workers’ compensation lawyer to help you resolve your workers’ comp case.

How Do You Choose the Best Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Athens?

Ethically, lawyers can’t claim to be the best workers’ compensation lawyers. Besides, the term “best” is subjective. Each person determines which characteristics make the best lawyer for them. You should consider a lawyer’s credentials before hiring them to help you with your workers’ compensation claim. You should consider several factors when selecting the best workers’ compensation lawyer for you.

Traits and Characteristics to Consider When Hiring a Worker’s Compensation Lawyer

Here are ten key factors to consider when choosing the best workers’ compensation lawyer to handle your case.

Experience Handling Workers’ Compensation Claims

When looking for a worker’s compensation Lawyer, one relevant choice-guiding factor is how many years of experience they have to handle workers’ compensation claims. It isn’t always easy to obtain workers’ compensation benefits, so an attorney with measurable experience is better than someone who has never worked a workers’ comp claim.

That doesn’t mean you should reject an attorney based on nothing more than experience. A less experienced lawyer may be able to handle your claim just as well as an experienced attorney. If the lawyer is willing to take your case, it generally means they feel confident they can help you successfully get the benefits you deserve.

Experience Handling Other Work Injury Claims

Workers’ compensation claims aren’t the only work injury claims that get made. Experience in handling workers’ compensation claims is essential, as is their expertise in handling other work injury claims. Sometimes, workers can expect other benefits besides workers’ compensation benefits.

Some lawyers specialize in personal injury claims, which is their primary focus. That doesn’t mean they aren’t the best workers’ compensation lawyers for your situation. However, if the lawyer only handles workers’ compensation claims, you may want to speak to someone who also takes other work injury claims.

Prior Case Results and Success Rate

Sometimes lawyers will give you their prior case results. Other times, they won’t. It is sometimes just their preference whether to disclose this information or not. Other times, there are specific rules against disclosing the information.

Since it can be against the rules, it shouldn’t be considered a red flag if they aren’t willing to disclose their prior case results. It can actually be a good thing that gives you insight into their ethics and professionalism.

You should remember that past results don’t indicate guaranteed future outcomes. Each case is individualized, so the chances of success vary dependent on the facts of your case.

Client Recommendations and Satisfaction

Find out what past clients have to say. Would they use this attorney again if they had to file another claim? Would they recommend the lawyer as one of the best workers’ compensation lawyers in your area? You should be able to review any client testimonials or reviews that are available before making your choice.

Sufficient Availability to Properly and Efficiently Handle Your Claim

Workers’ compensation lawyers are busy, and some of them are too busy. It’s typically a good sign if your lawyer has several clients, but you want them to have enough time to focus appropriate attention on your case. Your lawyer should file all claims on time and diligently pursue appropriate compensation for you.

Available to Talk When You Want to Ask Questions

Communication is an essential consideration for anyone who is choosing the best workers’ compensation lawyer to handle their case. If your lawyer doesn’t respond to calls or emails quickly, you may be frustrated if you don’t want to wait for answers to your questions. Of course, you might find that you work better with someone who waits until there is time to provide a thorough response which is a style that many lawyers employ when it comes to communication.

Communication Methods

Some lawyers will text with clients, and others choose not to do that. Some of them write long emails that provide in-depth explanations, while others are precise and to the point. If you have a preference for how communication is handled, then you need to consider that when you are choosing the best workers’ compensation lawyer for you.

Staff and Resources

Think about your preferences. Does your lawyer of choice have a full staff, or are they content working solo? Do you want to see multiple staff members who work behind the scenes, or would you prefer to work with the lawyer directly? Considering your preferences can help you determine whether to hire a large firm or a small-town independent lawyer.

Geographic Location and Familiarity with Your Town

At the very least, the lawyer you choose should be licensed to practice law in your state. Most of the time, this won’t be an issue. However, if you do an online search to find an attorney, it could become one. Often, it’s best to choose someone who practices in your town or city.

If you’re in a rural area, choose a lawyer from the nearest town or city. Choosing someone who is local to you makes it easier to meet them in person for consultations and progress reports on your case. It also means they are more likely to know your employer and where they do business.

Personal Connection and Comfort Level

You will often have a situation where the lawyers you’ve interviewed have similar credentials. When that happens, it boils down to who makes you feel the most comfortable. Did you feel personally connected to anyone you interviewed? The best workers’ compensation lawyer will be able to communicate with you easily, be passionate about helping people in similar situations to yours, and know the law implicitly.

You will also need to be comfortable sharing personal details with the attorney you choose. If there’s no personal connection, you may not want to share information with them that could affect the outcome of your claim. This is a nonissue for the best workers’ compensation lawyers because you can easily discuss your physical, emotional, and financial well-being with them.

Questions to Ask at Your Initial Consultation

Now that you know what traits to look for in a workers’ compensation lawyer, here are some questions you can ask them when you meet for the first time.

1. How long have you been handling workers’ compensation cases for clients?
2. Do you also represent people with other work injury claims (personal injury, premises liability, for example)?
3. Do the majority of your client’s cases settle? Do you have experience in the courtroom, should that become necessary?
4. Are there client reviews or testimonials available for me to read?
5. Will you have time to handle my work injury case?
6. Have you ever worked on a workers’ compensation case against my employer?
7. How familiar are you with the place where my accident occurred?
8. Have you helped clients with injuries similar to mine?
9. Who will I talk to when I have questions, you or a staff member?
10. Is it best to contact you or your staff by phone, email, or text message?

Get in Touch with Our Best Worker’s Compensation Lawyer Immediately

Getting injured at work can cause fear and extreme stress. If you need to file a workers’ compensation claim, you want to select the best worker’s compensation Lawyer for your situation. If you have questions about filing a workers’ compensation claim or if you have questions regarding other legal matters, contact Morgan & Morgan at (706) 843-2905.

Related Post: Types of Worker’s Compensation Settlements