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21 May, 2015 by Tammie
I was real glad to have been referred to Ben. I felt as I was with an honest firm. The doctors I was sent to were very ethical and honest, which meant a lot to me. Yes, my case may have taken a few years, that is out of our control, and it is just a drawn out process. I like Ben, he was laid back, and knew his work. I felt comfortable working with him, and I know I was not dealing with Shyster, and unethical doctors. Thanks again Ben for believing in me , and helping me. It was more then appreciated. Tammie
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20 Apr, 2013 by Brenda
Thank you Ben and his secretary Brenda for a very positive outcome on my case, I was in doubt when this Law firm first accepted my case 18 months ago, it took forever to get things moving and as for getting anyone to answer the phone or return a phone call, it was impossible, that was until my case was given to Ben about 8 months ago, he answered all of my questions promptly, allayed any concerns I had and was extremely helpful. Thank you Ben and Brenda
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11 Apr, 2013 by Anonymous
I have been working with this lawyer for several different cases and he nor his law firm has done much to help me. No return calls, no appointments. I believe that he is working with the other side and the money is split between the two. That is my honest opinion. I am in the process of hiring new counsel to help in my workers comp claim as well as a malpractice suit and to represent me against this firm. Its terrible how they work, their ethics is just bad business and the top lawyer there, Ronald F. is no better than the people he hire. He is suppose to be one of the top lawyers in the country and he train other lawyers, defense and others but what about the ones in your office. There are clowns working in this office, you can't get through to anyone, when you ask for your lawyer, the send you to someone else and they don't know anything at all. I think this is the worst firm I have come across.
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18 Apr, 2019 by Anonymous
This is the best work comp attorney. Mr Nielsen really takes the time to explain the process I am 100% satisfied with him. I have refereed several of my friends and family to him and every one of them have been very happy with his service keep up the good work
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26 Jun, 2015 by John g
THE FIRM TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE A BENEFICIARY ATTACHED TO MY SETTLEMENT. WAS NOT TRUE . NOW IF I DIE ALL THE SETTLEMENT GOES AWAT NOTHING FOR ME FAMILY AND THE FIRM WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEY MISTAKE DON'T USE THIS FIRM (AND HE GOT PAID AND EVEN LOOKED BACK DOES NOT LOOK AFTER HE'S CLIENTS PLEASE DON'T USE YOU CAN NEVER GET HIM ON THE PHONE ALWAYS USES A PARALEGAL GOOD LUCK TAKE IT FROM SOMEONE WHO KNOW THE FIRM LOOKS GOOD UP FRONT BUT DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THERE CLIENT I WILL LOSE ALOT OF MONEY FOR MY FAMILY BECAUSE OF THE FIRM S WRONG INFORMATION JOHN
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12 Dec, 2013 by Screwed client
If you want a vavorable result, do not hire this lawyer. I never talked to this lawyer, His helpers never let me talk to him. I was told he was too busy. Bottom line, i got a vrty poor settlement..He always sent some other lawyer to talk to me.Last lawyer he sent, was more like a used car salesman. OVERALL>>>>> At the final outcome i am very,very,very UPSET,Of my SETTLEMENT...
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07 Jul, 2021 by Anonymous
This attorney was very helpful until he was actually hired. After that, he did not return phone calls or emails. He was very impolite and condescending when he finally did answer emails. He seemed too busy to work on your case or to answer your questions. My case finally paid out after 2 years of waiting and dealing with him and his secretary, who always knew absolutely nothing. He also would make appointments for me without consulting me of my schedule, and would expect me to just appear at such appointments with no notice. Then became angry when I could not be there because I was working. I highly suggest you hire someone else.
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16 May, 2017 by Anonymous
let me start
I had situation in my life
lets say Us against City if LA n LAPD
when most lawyers backed down and were scared to take them down. they were so scared none of them showed up.
Mr Adam surpassed my expectation
give him the facts ( A 2 Z ) give him his space time and I assure u he will deliver
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26 Apr, 2017 by Corey
I was driving in a company truck and while on the freeway and I came to a complete stop. A lady behind me fell asleep and rear ended me at 60+ mph while again, I was at a complete stop. I was 25 years old when it happened and now I am 28 and I still have back pain due to a bulging disc, and pinched nerves. Workers' comp has been less than cooperative which is usually the case and that is why you get an attorney to fight for you. Well this guy lost any fight he might have had years ago. It's a large firm that takes tons of cases since workers' comp cases are limited to 10-15% for attorney fees, so they make up for the low amount they can charge you by doing bulk. They take tons of cases and don't give a sh*t about a single one of them.
After signing with him in 2015, workers' compensation offered a settlement to try to get rid of me quick and cheap which I turned down because I have actual back problems that I want fixed, I don't care about the money. He told me he would inform them that I was not accepting their offer and we would move forward with treatment. After this, I didn't get any more doctors appointments for MONTHS and I repeatedly emailed him to ask what's going on and I keep getting bs'd.
August of 2016 comes up and he informs me there is a hearing to fight to get me more treatment which he claimed went well and that he got the approval for more epidurals as I have already had one at this point BEFORE SIGNING WITH HIM. Just want to make it clear that I got the epidural WITHOUT help from this lawyer as it was BEFORE I even signed up with him. So I get excited that I will get more epidurals and hopefully get back to normal life and work, nope. Months start to go by and I am repeatedly emailing him with little to no response. Finally he says they gave up on me and there is nothing he can do. Well today I found out that the hearing wasn't about him fighting for more epidurals for me, but the defense asked for that hearing because they NEVER got a response about their settlement offer. So this lawyer never even responded to their settlement offer, and then LIED to me about the matter of this hearing.
I call the insurance myself and bypassed the lawyer and guess what, I get an appointment with a doctor without his help. I get in there almost a year after NO appointments due to the laziness and incompetence of Ronald Feenberg, and now workers' comp isn't approving any treatment because it has been stagnant for a year and they think it's BS at this point. Then I ask the lawyer for help and big shock, he does nothing.
Feruary of 2017 rolls around, and I have been constantly emailing asking for help since 2015. Finally after ridiculous amounts of me begging for the lawyer (who gets a cut of any settlement I get) to help me, he gets fed up with me and tells me to find someone else to represent me. Now I have to drive in and pick up all my ORIGINAL papers (he was supposed to make copies of everything and mail me my originals which he never did) from him which he left at the front desk since I apparently am not worth his time. So after wasting well over a year of my time and making my case look bad, now he drops me as a client.
On top of all of this I also found out today that neither Ronald Feenberg or anyone else at this stable of an office turned in the paperwork to drop me as a client so he is still listed as my representation. This means any letters anyone from workers' comp or the insurance company has been going to his office for the last few months and he NEVER informed me or forwarded me any of my letters. So he has basically stolen and thrown out months worth of important letters for me......
This firm is trash, and Ronald Feenberg should truly consider the move to Florida.....
There is so much more to this story but this should be more than enough.
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17 May, 2016 by Anonymous
Ron Feenberg is a lawyer I would highly recommend. Personal injuries cannot always be detected from one's appearance, but Mr. Feenberg believed my physical pains & my inability to work.
He hired a personal injury attorney from his firm, which gave me 2 cases (Workers Comp & Personal Injury), against the company where I was working, when I had a serious Slip-and-Fall, which has injured me for a lifetime.
My medical records proved my injuries. Ron followed up with my medical care, including my physical therapy sessions. Against the odds of my looking well on the outside, Mr. Feenberg did not stop until he won my Workers Comp case. He treated me with dignity & respect.
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18 Feb, 2014 by Bobbie
Mr. Bouyer represented by son several years ago and without his representation I don't know what I would have done. He was diligent , professional, and did an excellent job. I will always be grateful to him and have always recommended him to those in need of representation.
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23 May, 2011 by Anonymous
I would NEVER recommend him. He did a case for me years and he had his phone shut off for non pymt as well as his lights. He also had Bar disciplinary action. He did NOT file papers on time which caused big problems on a big case. I had to fire him and hire a good attorney in another state when I moved and I would have lost the case if I had not hired somone competent. He has had SO much trouble that now, everything is in his wife's name because he can't get credit.
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07 Dec, 2023 by Anonymous
He talks over you and talks too fast. Extremely rude tendencies across the board. Is this the guy you want to represent you?
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31 Jan, 2020 by Geneva
Mark was recommended to me by The Barnes Firm. I’m picky with lawyers. I don’t want a nice lawyer. Mark is aggressive, stern, and owns his craft. It’s the lawyers job to worry and not the client so I felt confident I was in good hands. Mark doesn’t charge a bogus contingency fee like many others I’ve seen. I wish Mark practiced in other areas of law so I can always call him my attorney.
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27 Jul, 2024 by Profiles and reviews
28 May, 2018 by Mark greydanus
04 May, 2019 by Rashawn
Inconsistent when it comes to responding to emails, calls and written letters. I had to follow up emails and calls with certified letters just to get a response at times. Was rude and very disrespectful to me in front of a group of individuals including the opposing counsel during my deposition. For my deposition, he (Ron) requested I arrive an hour early, which I did, but he arrived an hour late and the deposition had to be rescheduled to a later date as a result. Total disregard for my health and well-being. Go with another attorney.
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05 May, 2018 by Brittany
Sometimes hard to get ahold of but they did a great job with my case and answered/ explained everything really well!
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09 Apr, 2017 by Anonymous
This lawyer did not even show up to my deposition .I drove an hour and a half for nothin .nobody bothered to tell me he wasnt going and now he still wants to get paid after him and his staff put me threw hell.he kept my file from my new lawyer for a month.Beware!
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06 Jan, 2021 by Anonymous
He is the worst lawyer I have ever dealt with! He would never give me an estimated on how much my case was worth. He sometimes refuse my phone calls.
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14 Jun, 2016 by Kerry
Mr. Borenstein took over the case thankfully. But it didn't turn out well. Even though my left foot, ankle and leg were intentionally ran into and over with an 2,200 lb power lift. And crushed to the point that the foot,ankle and leg swell a lot even after 5 years. 5,520 was taken out of the Settlement amount even though I never took any Disability relating to the injury. I caught staph infect. in a personal matter not Worker's Compensation related.
Well Mr. Borenstein's purpose, the exact reason he was hired . was to catch such Underhanded tactics from Tobin and Lucks
LLP.
HE DIDN'T. So I basically received nothing. Zero money.
So, I'm closing out this other case currently and they're also trying to Close out the "Future Medical" on the Foot ankle case and I realize the mistake Mr. Borenstein made so I call him.
He was borderline rude with me. Friggin unbelievable! Saying "your coming back to me after five years! I can't do anything."
Well all I can do is see if I can file a State Bar Complaint.
I have no choice.
In these very tuff times I hired him for the particulars and he muffed it! Period! Now we're out minimum $5,500.00
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06 May, 2015 by Anonymous
Mr. Borenstein impressed me throughout my case with his knowledge and ability to share the information with me. I know he achieved the best results for me.
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07 Sep, 2024 by Joe camacho
I think the record is clear that the state bar is corrupt as evidenced by their implications in the global corruption exhibited in the Gerardi case.
It is astonishing that none of them have been indicted and prosecuted criminally and instead allowed to simply resign.
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29 Aug, 2024 by Sabrine gelvord
14 Aug, 2024 by Miss cee
As you can see from their poor ratings and the commentary this organization does not protect the public. Due to this organization not doing their job, my family and I went to a D.A. and now the attorney who I complained about is no longer on the case. Yes, the D.A. did a better job that this organization.
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27 Mar, 2024 by Anonymous
This website is fake. There is no way for an Attorney in Workers Comp to pocket Applicants settlement, as it is sent directly from the carrier to the injured worker. These reviews were fabricated. Other sites give praise to this accomplished Attorney. He should sue this site.
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02 Nov, 2021 by Anonymous
Kenneth Fram does not have any disciplinary actions taken against him on record because, The State Law Board refuses to take them. Instead, they tell you to sue him for negligence. And goodluck with finding an attorney to sue another attorney. Kenneth Fram took my entire settlement and lied about it. And I would have never known about it, had I not heard the defense attorney speak about it. And The State Law Board, allows attorneys to get away with these types of acts, with no consequences. Leaving injured workers permanently disabled, unable to seek future employment and impoverished. There is a special place down below for Kenneth Fram. Because, I know I am not the only person he has done this to.
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21 Oct, 2020 by Steve
This guy should be disbarred, complete fool, I knee more about law than this moron. He sat on my case for 6 months and never got me to a doctor, one screw up in his office after another. Fired this moron and went to Majen Bina in Santa Ana, she has me seeing a doctor within two days and settled mt case for a substantial amount within 3 months. She had to fic and redo everything Fram did.
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03 Nov, 2022 by Anonymous
This guy is a terd . Manny is a waste of space a skid mark on society he should learn how to
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04 Aug, 2017 by Julian
He insulted me many times. Blamed me for everything and then forced me to sign paperwork
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24 Oct, 2014 by Azalea
This lawyer, or divo lawyer, is the most arrogant, unprofessional, and disrespectful attorney that I have ever seen all my life. We went for a consultation, and he treated us very bad, he didn't have the patience to deal with a worker that is nervous about his future. He interrupted is and corrected is in a very arrogant way and in less than 15 minutes he told us that he is not interested in represent us. My worst experience ever at a law office
I won't recommend this person to no one, and every where I step I gonna tell everyone how awful he is.
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30 Jun, 2024 by Anonymous
Not good at communication. Smug and arrogant. Ended up retaining a different lawyer because I had no confidence in Mr. Desai in handling my complex WCAB case.
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06 Dec, 2017 by Anonymous
Mr. Ortega has not been helping me with my case. My case settled more than a decade ago but in the last 4 years I have tried to get help from him on the services awarded to me by the Court and he has been of no assistance to me. I have called him and left messages on his voice mail (more than 100 messages by now) and they have unanswered. Its pretty obvious he doesn't care and lacks the professional ethics of a lawyer.
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03 Jul, 2019 by Anonymous
Unfortunately I do not recommend hiring Mr. Samarghachian. I hired him for a Workers Compensation case in 2015 when I received a concussion and neck injury at work. In our first meeting Mr. Samarghachian promised many things including finding a doctor in Dallas where I had to move to live with my parents due to the injury’s affect on my ability to work. I suppose he thought that I wouldn’t remember this meeting since at the time I was pretty stricken with brain fog from the concussion (I had to take a break halfway and have some water as I couldn’t handle a normal conversation at that time) and denied he made such a promise. Finally I dropped him as my attorney in 2016 later after years of not getting a hold of him or his assistant (who was rude on the phone for no reason as I was perfectly polite), promises to move my case forward that never happened, a phone call in which he seemed to basically not remember anything about my case, and probably more that I’ve forgotten. It seemed that, thinking my case probably wouldn’t make him much money, he stringed me along instead of officially dropping me as a client. Additionally, he basically told me that he had done everything he could for me case (which I know to be false due to my current lawyer’s efforts). If I hadn’t been dealing with debilitating brain fog, migraines, neck injury and learning the ropes of WC cases on my own, I might have saved myself some time and grief and dropped him sooner. Do yourself a favor and hire Steve Kaykov instead. He is younger and less experienced than Mr. Samarghachian but he and his assistants have worked tirelessly on my behalf, always prompt to answer, explain the process and address my concerns. I only wish I had hired him, and fired Mr. Samarghachian, sooner.
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12 Mar, 2015 by Anonymous
While being represented, I had a work comp surgery that resulted in an injury to another area of my body secondary to the traction that needed to be placed to perform the surgery. I immediately contacted this lawyer, he was aware of injury immediately. He never added injury to my w/c case. Injry occured in feb 2012, he would not add to my w/c case. He allowed me to see AME in Oct 2012, without any mention of this injury that caused while i had been under general anesthesia. My employer and w/c ins refused to treat new injury that they caused( the burden of proof apparently was mine/ attorney) I had to go through my private insurance to get treatment. I have spent $$$$$ out of pocket. I ended up with compartment syndrome in my foot where the traction was placed wrong, had surgery and still now 2+ years later have disability and physical impairment to foot. Tomm would not answer emails for over a year, nor over 40 messages left at his office. He was aware I wanted to file negligence against MD that caused damage, and still no response. My statute of limitations had expired, now 3 years later and a new w/c attorney, the damage and care to foot is now being addressed thru the w/c system. This attorney has provided legal negligence. Dont go to him
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04 Jan, 2019 by Mary
Mr. Kapland is currently my attorney in my injury and illness that I receive in 2001 with the company I worked for over 23 years and recently had to leave the company after 13 failed surgeries due to what we know now a severe metal allergy that has caused me to become very ill and without an elbow. The claim was uncontested by my employer and insurance company. Mr. Kaplands mishandling and greed for my claim is the only reason it went to court. Throughout the years the insurance company changed hands but the last company it was turned over to CAIGA. I was made 100% disable and unable to work in 2014vbut made permanent and stationary in 2007 but continued to work under severe stress and very ill. I was just informed that I won and received an award, future medical with a life pension in 2016. Mr. Kapland has refused to communicate with me except to send me harassing emogyi's laughing at me. I never received a structured settled and for the past year I am being refused medical care locally and being forced to travel from Arizona to Los Angeles Can for court hearings and doctor appointments. I receive no reimbursements for traveling and when I appear in WCAB twice in the past 3 months no attorney speaks to me and I don't see our judge so I have no idea why I'm even ordered to appear. I then receive from the defense counsel via mail that my attorney had the claim. Put on the calendar to inform defense counsel and the court that he is my attorney and they are not allowed to speak with me when I call and have all communications go through him. I haven't spoken to Mr. Kapland since I dismissed him years ago for mishandling and inappropriate behavior. Mr. Kapland who is claiming to be my attorney is trying to cover up his mishandling. He also uses Dr.Khioury to conduct insurance fraud by charging the insurance company for exams and treatment that were never performed. He has caused me to lose my family home and in jeopardy of losing my current residence and belongings. But will send emogyi's from his identified cell phone and work email on a regular basis to terrorize me. Please be aware of this attorney he is a bad man and an even worse attorney. I can supply you with evidence of all my claims and much more.
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20 Mar, 2024 by Anonymous
My employer did not care about my pain and being hurt on the job. I came to watchtel law firm and Shawn was rude and I didn’t trust him. I gave them a try anyway and they sent me to phony doctors and took all of the money I won. Do not trust!
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28 Feb, 2015 by Bruce walters
I was a client in the past of Mr. Dombrowski, he did hid job as well as he could at that time. When I saw his name and had an issue, I immediately thought of him and contacted him via email. After a couple of weeks, I contacted him again via email, still no response. Since he flailed to respond to my email(s) I will have to assume Mr. Dombrowski is very busy, but I would at least like to have heard from him.
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21 Mar, 2024 by Toan
I regret to say that I cannot recommend the services of this judge. In my experience, the judge's decisions showed a lack of understanding of the fundamental aspects of our case, particularly regarding the value of labor. There was a distinct sense of undermining the cost and effort that goes into professional development work. This disregard for the substantial time and skill invested by developers not only led to an unsatisfactory resolution but also sent a discouraging message about the recognition of professional expertise and fair compensation in the industry. This experience has left me with concerns about the fairness and equity of the judgements passed in such cases.
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19 Jun, 2020 by Victor
I was in a car accident and i had this law firm was already handling a another case for me. On my first case they litterally did me wrong they didnt really fight for me and there was no communication. On my car accident case i had to litterally be going and coming and getting information for them because they could not do it. It took 4-5 months so they can send me to a chiropractor and wen i told them i was in pain all they said was that i had old bones (what does that mean) they never treated me for my pain. After 11 months all i got was chiropractor treatment never was i sent for an mri or orthopedic. Everytime i call them there always busy and never return my calls. I have to keep calling and calling. When i was done with the chiropractor they wanted me to go pick up the report and send it to them. Its now almost 15 months from date of accident and im still in pain and have no clue were my case is at. I am going to report them to the state bar because i am not happy with there services. Very bad customer service. If they cant multi task or handle so many cases then they should tell the client to seek help somewere else.
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27 Jan, 2015 by Anonymous
I'm homeless because of Mr Huerta. The so called Dr he sent me to released me to work full duty while my hand and back were at their worst. I asked Mr Huerta if I could get second opinion from my Dr, was told yes. My Dr determined I was not fit to work and was taken off again within a day. I kept Mr Huerta informed of everything. Mr Huerta called the Workers Comp Co and told them I went back to work and to stop my payments. My rent and bills snowballed out of control that I was evicted last year and now permanently disabled, unemployed and homeless. No source of income whatsoever.
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10 Aug, 2024 by David
He treats clients like scum. Like we work for him and everything he does is a favor. He could not care less about getting max value for a case because his take is limited. Screamer and an awful person to work with.
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Can Do for You
A workers’ compensation lawyer specializes in helping employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their job to receive the benefits they are entitled to under workers' compensation laws. These lawyers represent injured workers in claims for medical benefits, wage replacement, and other compensation related to workplace injuries or illnesses. They also help when claims are denied, benefits are delayed, or disputes arise with the employer or the insurance company.
Whether you've been injured on the job, developed an occupational illness, or are dealing with a denied workers' compensation claim, a workers’ compensation lawyer can help you navigate the claims process and ensure you receive the full benefits you deserve.
When Should I Hire a Workers' Compensation Lawyer?
You should consider hiring a workers' compensation lawyer in several situations, especially when complications arise during the claims process or when your rights as an injured worker are being challenged. Some common reasons to hire a workers' compensation lawyer include:
- Claim denial: If your workers' compensation claim has been denied, a lawyer can help you appeal the decision and represent you in hearings or litigation.
- Inadequate benefits: If the insurance company offers you a settlement that doesn’t cover your medical expenses, lost wages, or other damages, a lawyer can negotiate on your behalf for a fair amount.
- Delay in receiving benefits: If your benefits are being delayed, a lawyer can help expedite the process to ensure you receive timely compensation.
- Permanent disability: If your injury leads to permanent disability (partial or total), a lawyer can help you navigate the more complex process of securing long-term benefits.
- Retaliation by employer: If your employer retaliates against you for filing a workers' compensation claim (e.g., by firing or demoting you), a lawyer can protect your rights and pursue legal action.
- Third-party liability: If a third party (e.g., a contractor or equipment manufacturer) was responsible for your injury, a lawyer can help you pursue additional compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.
- Pre-existing conditions: If your employer or the insurance company claims that your injury is related to a pre-existing condition, a lawyer can help you present evidence showing that the injury was work-related.
Hiring a lawyer early in the process can prevent delays, avoid mistakes, and ensure you receive all the benefits you’re entitled to under workers' compensation law.
What Does a Workers' Compensation Lawyer Do?
A workers' compensation lawyer provides a range of legal services to injured workers, ensuring that they receive the benefits they deserve. Their tasks often include:
- Filing claims: Helping injured workers prepare and file their workers' compensation claims to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
- Appealing denied claims: Representing workers whose claims have been denied and guiding them through the appeals process, including hearings and court appearances.
- Negotiating settlements: Negotiating with insurance companies to secure fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.
- Handling disputes: Resolving disputes between the injured worker, the employer, and the insurance company regarding the amount of compensation or the nature of the injury.
- Coordinating medical evidence: Gathering and presenting medical records, expert testimony, and other evidence to support the workers' compensation claim.
- Advocating for benefits: Ensuring that injured workers receive all the benefits they’re entitled to, including temporary or permanent disability benefits, vocational rehabilitation, and medical treatment.
- Filing third-party lawsuits: In cases where a third party is responsible for the injury, a workers' compensation lawyer may also pursue a personal injury lawsuit to recover additional damages.
How Are Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Paid?
Workers' compensation lawyers typically charge a contingency fee, meaning they only get paid if they successfully recover benefits for you. This fee is usually a percentage of the benefits awarded, and the specific percentage is often regulated by state law. Here's how it generally works:
- Contingency fee: The lawyer's fee is typically between 15% and 25% of the total benefits awarded to you. You don’t have to pay any upfront legal fees, and the lawyer’s fee comes out of the settlement or benefit award.
- No fee if no recovery: If the lawyer doesn’t recover any benefits for you, you generally don’t have to pay for their services.
- State regulations on fees: Many states cap the percentage that workers' compensation lawyers can charge, and some states require the fee to be approved by the workers' compensation board or judge.
Be sure to discuss the fee structure with your lawyer during the initial consultation to understand how much you will owe if your case is successful.
How Much Does a Workers' Compensation Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a workers' compensation lawyer typically depends on the contingency fee arrangement, meaning the lawyer’s fee will be a percentage of the benefits you receive. General cost estimates include:
- Contingency fees: Most workers' compensation lawyers charge between 15% and 25% of the total settlement or benefits awarded. For example, if you receive $50,000 in benefits, the lawyer’s fee would range from $7,500 to $12,500.
- State regulations: Some states limit the percentage that workers' compensation lawyers can charge. In these cases, the fee is usually capped, often at 20% to 25%, depending on state law.
- Additional costs: Some lawyers may charge for out-of-pocket expenses, such as filing fees, medical records retrieval, and expert witness testimony, though these costs are typically deducted from the settlement after the case is won.
You should always ask for a clear explanation of fees and potential additional costs during your consultation so you understand the financial arrangement.
Top Questions to Ask a Workers' Compensation Lawyer
Before hiring a workers' compensation lawyer, it’s important to ask the right questions to ensure they are the best fit for your case. Key questions to ask include:
-
What experience do you have with workers' compensation cases?
Ensure the lawyer has experience handling cases similar to yours, especially if your injury is severe or the case involves disputes. -
How do you charge for your services?
Clarify whether the lawyer charges a contingency fee and whether there are any additional costs you need to be aware of. -
What is the likelihood of success in my case?
Ask for an honest assessment of your case, including the potential challenges and outcomes. -
Have you handled cases like mine before?
Find out if the lawyer has experience dealing with cases involving similar injuries or disputes, such as denied claims or permanent disability. -
How long will the process take?
While it’s difficult to predict an exact timeline, the lawyer should be able to provide a general estimate based on their experience with similar cases. -
Will you personally handle my case?
In larger firms, junior attorneys or paralegals may handle parts of your case. Make sure you know who will be working on your claim.
How to Check the Credibility of a Workers' Compensation Lawyer
To ensure you are hiring a reputable workers' compensation lawyer, follow these steps to verify their credentials and track record:
- Verify their bar status: Check with your state bar association to confirm that the lawyer is licensed and in good standing, with no disciplinary actions against them.
- Look for workers' compensation experience: Review the lawyer’s website or professional profile to ensure they specialize in workers' compensation law and have successfully handled cases similar to yours.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Look for client reviews on platforms like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google to see what previous clients have said about the lawyer’s expertise and service.
- Ask for references: A credible lawyer should be willing to provide references from past clients who can speak to their experience in workers' compensation cases.
- Check for professional affiliations: Membership in organizations like the Workers' Injury Law & Advocacy Group (WILG) or local bar association committees on workers' compensation can indicate the lawyer’s commitment to this area of law.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make the most out of your first consultation with a workers' compensation lawyer, it’s important to come prepared with relevant documents and information. Here’s what you should bring:
- Accident report or incident documentation: Bring any documentation related to your workplace injury or illness, including accident reports or notifications to your employer.
- Medical records: Provide copies of medical records, including treatment notes, doctor’s reports, and any information related to your injury or condition.
- Employer correspondence: Bring any letters, emails, or forms related to your claim from your employer or the workers' compensation insurance company.
- Wage and benefits information: Provide information on your wages, benefits, and any lost income due to the injury.
- List of questions: Prepare questions about your case, the process, costs, and what to expect moving forward.
- Timeline of events: Prepare a timeline of the incident, your injury, and any medical treatment or communication with your employer and the insurance company.
Being well-prepared for your consultation will allow the lawyer to assess your case more effectively and provide you with the best possible legal advice.
