Reviews

TLDR: Joe Appel et al. are awesome and will protect you from the ugly underbelly that is worker’s-compensation litigation. I was fortunate enough to have Joe recommended to me by a family member, and wise enough to ask him for help. I got hurt at work and ended up in the hospital. Immediately after my accident, my employer and worker’s comp. insurance contact were cooperative with the doctor’s recommendations; the facade quickly faded, when it became clear that my case would not have an easy, quick, or cheap resolution. I began receiving letters that – given my emotional (let alone physical) state – were downright mean, claiming all sorts of failures on my part to seek appropriate care. Then my claims started being denied. Then they stopped paying for everything; even after their own doctor wrote several letters saying it was obvious that I needed further care. It was a very scary time for me: I was healing and dealing with having a long-term injury, could not return to work, was reliant on their assistance (disability payments), and then – when they decided to stop paying me – I had no source of income and there was no foreseeable end to this whole fiasco. Enter Joe Appel and his team. I will remember my first encounter with Joe because of the frank nature with which he handles business, and the way in which he was able to see through all the crap (pardon) and show me my options. It was obvious that he had been doing this a long time and understood the nature of the beast that I was grappling with, and his complete confidence was reassuring. I officially asked Joe to represent me and my interests the following day, and that decision has made my life so. much. better. As my lawyer, he was the point of contact for *all* correspondence with the worker’s compensation adjusters, their lawyers, the court and it’s administrators, my employer, their lawyers, the outside safety-regulatory agency that had gotten involved, their lawyers… in real-life terms, it meant that I didn’t have to deal directly with anyone; all the negativity that had been flooding my mailbox, inbox, voicemail, etc. stopped. That in-and-of-itself was worth the cost of admission. Everything that happened was explained to me in non-lawyer speak; there was no guess-work as to what this particular letter meant, and he knew what the motives behind particular posturing meant, etc. Basically, because he is so good at what he does, I didn’t have to be. He laid things out in layman’s terms, gave me my options without bias, and did what I asked. In addition to the larger benefits of having someone go to bat for me, there were smaller details that were equally appreciated. I often had questions and would shoot off a quick (or lengthy) email or call their office, and I *always* got a prompt response; I even got replies after hours and on weekends (I’m not trying to set false/improper expectations, just highlighting a part of my experience that made me feel my case was important). I often spoke with Kathy (one of their amazing assistants), and she was always exceptionally sweet and helpful, making sure I got what I needed. Everything I needed paperwork-wise was provided, and I got timely reminders of things I needed to do or meetings I needed to attend. The most surprising thing that I didn’t know at the outset was how long these things take to resolve; my case took over a year and I’m pretty sure I got off “easy,” as these things go. But the whole time, Joe, Tom, Kathy, and everyone else, were looking out for my best interests, fighting so I didn’t have to, allowing me to focus on healing and getting on with my life. And if that wasn’t enough, when all was said and done, Joe got me some money out of the deal. Now, I can see what doctors I want, when I want, till I am satisfied that I’m healed – physically *and* mentally. There is also something to be said about having a financial cushion to allow you get back to life at your own pace, and the feeling of security this provides… icing on the cake.

The experience level in their specialty at Appel Law Firm, where brothers Joe and Michael share a long standing partnership, combined with the dedication of the team - attorneys and staff - is a rare find. On recommendation of a trusted source I contacted the Appel Law Firm. Joe Appel accepted and conscientiously worked on my case and led the case to a settlement. The Appel Law Firm was always right on the ball. I highly recommend.

I found Joe Appel and his staff to be very knowledgeable, understanding and friendly. I would highly recommend them for your legal needs. I first found The Appel Law Firm on Yelp and there were good reviews there, secondly I had interviewed several other attorneys before meeting with Joe and found the other attorneys to be very pushy and over bearing. Joe was a refreshing change to what I had encountered in the world of attorneys. He helped me with my case and resolved it in the fastest way possible without having to go to court. Hopefully, I won't find myself in need of his services again, however if I do I know I will go to him again.