When you sustain an injury at work, you might think it’s easy to file a worker's compensation claim on your own. Not so. Consider filing your claim with the help of a dependable worker's compensation attorney. Here are some of the qualities you should look for when hiring a work injury attorney.
Attorney's or a Law Firm's Experience
Filing a worker's compensation claim is a multi-step process that can be complicated for the average worker. It is even more challenging for a person who has never filed a claim before. You may find it difficult to receive compensation for your injuries. You’re better off hiring a qualified and dependable Worker's Compensation law firm or attorney to help you with the process.
Find an attorney with ample experience and one who has handled cases similar to yours. Such a work injury law firm has the technical knowledge and deep understanding of the system needed to navigate the legal landscape when filing your worker's compensation claim. The attorney will evaluate your eligibility and offer strategies that will lead to your desired outcome.
Determine a lawyer's experience by checking the law firm's website. Find out the number of years the firm has been in operation and the cases they deal in. If this information isn't present on the firm's website, schedule an in-person appointment or call the firm for help.
The Personality of the Attorney
While most attorneys work under a law firm, it is prudent to know the specific lawyer who will represent you. Get to understand their personality and how to communicate with them. It is prudent to find a lawyer with a positive outlook and a desire to help.
Determining the personality of a lawyer can be challenging. However, you can tell whether a lawyer has a good personality or not by answering a few questions.
- Is the lawyer patient and clear when responding to your questions?
- Is the attorney's personality compatible with yours?
- Does the attorney show a keen interest in your worker compensation case?
Pay Structure
Before hiring a lawyer, seek to understand their payment method and structure. Most lawyers charge their clients on an hourly basis. However, the San Francisco worker's compensation attorney charges a contingency fee – a percentage of the amount you receive as compensation. Given the nature of this payment method, different states instituted laws to control the percentage a lawyer can charge.
In many cases, you won't have to pay fees to a San Francisco work injury law firm in the course of the case. Instead, the lawyer will take a cut from the compensation recovered. The lawyer won't be paid if your claim is denied. Therefore, most attorneys are selective and select cases with a high probability of being won.
Free Consultations
Most Oakland work injury attorneys offer free consultations. An Oakland worker's compensation attorney schedules an in-person appointment for you to learn more about them. Take advantage of these free consultations to understand their personality and vet their suitability for your case. The lawyer will also want to know more about your case by asking pertinent questions. You too should ask a lot of questions about them to understand their service better.
If you are looking for a reliable San Jose worker's compensation attorney, calling The Law Offices of Alex Bonilla, P.C. should be your first step. Contact the firm at (415) 761-3171 or email at alex@bonilla-law.com. You can also visit their offices at 1390 MARKET ST STE 200 SAN FRANCISCO CA 94102-5404 for in-person consultations.
