Any time you experience a work-related injury, it’s a good idea to contact knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorneys at the earliest opportunity. The right lawyers can help you file a claim or push back against an employer who doesn’t want to file for one reason or another.
That said, there are good law firms and subpar ones, and it can be tough to know which is which. In this guide, we’ll break down what some workers’ comp lawyers won’t tell you. By understanding this, you’ll be able to determine whether a given law firm is worth your time.
Alternatively, you cancontact the skilled workers’ compensation lawyers of Schwartzapfel Lawyers for a free case evaluation by visiting us online or by calling 1-516-342-2200 today.
You Have Time to Find Better Lawyers
When you’re considering taking action on workers’ comp claim, you might be urged by your legal counsel to file quickly.
In truth, however, you likely have up to three (3) years from the date of your NYS workers’ comp claim being rejected by your employer to file suit. Therefore, you shouldn’t hire the first law firm you find, even if they specialize in personal injuries or work injuries.
Instead, you should take the time to research different lawyers and find the best legal group for your unique needs and preferences. Other lawyers may not mention this; they may try to hurry you through the process, especially if their business model relies on a fast-moving caseload. You are entitled to better. In fact, you are entitled to the best.
Injured workers often need help filing workplace injury claims and securing sound legal advice. The best lawyers will continue to help you as you receive medical treatments and won’t charge early attorney fees, plus help you apply for disability benefits or maximize your benefits to cover lost wages, medical bills, and Social Security Disability (SSD).
There Are No Consequences to Accepting New Counsel
Some workers’ comp lawyers may tell you that they don\’t advise you to find new counsel or new legal representatives, even if you are unhappy with their service so far. The truth is that there are no consequences to hiring new counsel for your case.
In fact, it could be even better in the long term. If you are unsatisfied with your current legal representation, don\’t hesitate to contact better workers’ comp attorneys like the ones at Schwartzapfel Lawyers. One phone call can lead you to superior workers’ comp lawyers who will provide you with better value throughout your case and ensure that you get a much better payout, especially if you have been intentionally wronged by your employer or insurance company.
To that end, for a free case evaluation, call 1-516-342-2200 now! Alternatively, you can schedule your free consultation online or simply keep reading.
You Don’t Have to Pay Attorneys Upfront
If you speak with a work injury lawyer and they want you to pay upfront, walk away. Although they may not tell you this, you should never have to pay your personal injury attorneys upfront under any circumstances.
In point of fact, the best workers’ compensation law firms operate on contingency fee bases. A contingency fee basis essentially means that you only have to pay your lawyers if they secure damages for you through their legal efforts.
For example, suppose you sue your employer for denying a rightful workers’ comp claim, and you recover damages. In that case, your attorneys will take a percentage of those damages for their services. If your attorneys don’t result in you winning any money, you won’t have to pay them a dime.
You should always look for a workers’ comp lawyer who operates on a contingency fee basis. That way, you don’t have to add even more financial strain to your current situation.
You Can Always Contest a Workers’ Comp Claim or Benefits Amount
Many workers’ comp lawyers are more concerned with getting through as many cases as possible than they are with doing the best work possible for their clients. Unfortunately, this leads many lawyers to tell their clients that they aren’t able to contest a workers’ comp claim or award once it has been offered by their employer. That’s not the truth.
Instead, you can always contest a workers’ compensation claim if you are unsatisfied with it. For instance, if you are injured in the workplace, and your employer or your employer’s insurance company offers you a very low monthly sum, you don’t have to accept it. You can deny it and request more benefits on the basis of your injuries, issues with workplace safety, and more.
If your lawyer doesn’t tell you this, start looking for new counsel right away. The right counsel may even suggest methods of alternative dispute resolution, such as arbitration.
You Don’t Have to Accept an Initial Settlement Offer
Similarly, you do not have to accept an initial settlement offer after your workers’ comp lawyer threatens to sue an offending party.
Many insurance companies and employers will immediately respond to a lawsuit threat by offering a measly sum of money as a settlement. You might be tempted to just take the money and run, especially if your medical expenses are piling up.
Still, your workers’ comp lawyer may not tell you that accepting the settlement offer is not your only option. You can push back and seek out more damages or a higher settlement through the negotiation process.
Any lawyer worth their salt should be able to guide you through this and provide you with adequate representation to secure you with even greater damages. That’s how we do things at Schwartzpafel Lawyers.
To learn more now, dial 1-516-342-2200 and allow our experienced legal team the honor and privilege of assisting you on your road to financial recovery.
Your Case Should Be Handled by Full Attorneys, Not Paralegals
Many workers’ comp attorneys won’t tell you exactly who will handle your case. In fact, as is often the case at some of the larger law firms, to get through as many cases as possible in a given month, lawyers will hand off new workers’ compensation cases to paralegals.
While paralegals are important personnel in any legal office, they are not the highly trained representatives you pay for. As such, your case should be handled by fully trained, experienced attorneys — not their assistants.
When you talk to a workers’ comp lawyer to determine whether you will hire them, ask who will be handling your case. If they can’t answer, or if they tell you that they will hand it over to the best paralegals in their office, it’s not a good sign. Make sure that your case is handled by experienced attorneys who have already won workers’ comp cases.
If You Stop Receiving Benefits, It Might Be Your Attorney’s Fault
Sometimes, you may start to receive workers’ compensation benefits, only for them to stop from one month to the next. When this happens, your workers’ comp attorney may not tell you that it’s their fault.
Some workers’ comp lawyers make mistakes with paperwork, may not submit requested documents, or may not communicate with the insurance company or your employer on your behalf. All of these are breaches of their duties to you and are signs that you should look out for different legal counsel instead.
As noted above, you can always switch to a different law firm, especially if you are receiving subpar service. Don’t listen to attorneys who tell you there will be penalties if you switch. If you’ve stopped receiving workers’ comp benefits, it’s up to you to find lawyers who will fight for you to recover all the money and benefits you are entitled to.
How Schwartzapfel Lawyers Is Different
As you can see, not all workers’ comp lawyers are alike. In fact, many subpar legal offices are more interested in making a profit than they are in taking care of their clients. On this point and others, Schwartzapfel Lawyers is different as we treat each of our clients like family and commit ourselves to protecting them and their interests for the duration of our partnership and beyond.
When you speak with Schwartzapfel Lawyers by contacting us online or at 1-516-342-2200, you’ll get experienced workers’ compensation attorneys who will go to bat for you in and out of court and negotiate on your behalf with insurance companies and other adverse parties.
Contact Schwartzapfel Lawyers Today
No matter your situation, the right workers’ comp attorneys will be forthright, honest, and dedicated to your case from start to finish. That’s why you shouldcontact Schwartzapfel Lawyers right away.
As seasoned workers’ comp attorneys, our lawyers have successfully handled hundreds of workers’ compensation cases just like yours. More importantly, we know the importance of sticking by our clients and giving them the absolute best service possible.
For a free consultation and so much more, visit us online or call 1-516-342-2200 now!
Disclaimer: Nothing on this page should be considered legal advice. You should seek the appropriate counsel your situation requires. For more information, call 1-516-342-2200 now!
Sources:
Schwartzapfel Lawyers, P.C. | Fighting For You™™
What is Workers’ Compensation? | Workers’ Compensation Board of New York
contingency fee | Wex | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute
How Does A Workers’ Comp Settlement Work? 2023 Guide | Forbes Advisor
