If you ever have the misfortune of getting injured in an on-job accident, you may claim for benefits under the workers’ compensation system in Virginia. All employers in the state are required to have workers’ compensation insurance, and most employees are entitled to the benefits. Beyond on-job injuries, benefits also extend to employees and workers, who have been diagnosed with job-related disease or illness. To ensure that your claim is not denied and you get the deserved benefits, you may want to consider hiring a lawyer. In this post, we are sharing more on how to choose between Fairfax workers’ compensation lawyers.
Ask about experience
Keep in mind that you need a lawyer who specializes in work injury claims. It is fair for you as a new client to ask about their experience and expertise. The success rate of a lawyer is something to consider, and look for someone with at least 90% success rate or higher. While most workers’ compensation claims are settled amicably through negotiations, you need to be sure that your lawyer has the experience of taking claims and appeals to court, if need be. Capability to negotiate and courtroom confidence equally matter for handling workers’ compensation claims.
Know your case better
Meeting a workers’ comp lawyer in Virginia is also about asking for details. You need to know the benefits that you are entitled to, and if you can sue in your employer under any circumstances. Filing for a workers’ compensation claim doesn’t require a lawsuit, except for very limited circumstances. Benefits will cover for medical bills, loss of wages, and other expenses, but this again may vary from one case to another. Allow your workers’ compensation lawyer to explain the details.
Cost of hiring a lawyer
Depending on your case, a workers’ compensation lawyer may work on a contingency basis. This refers to an arrangement, where the lawyer gets paid a fixed percentage of the eventual weekly benefits you get, for a limited period of time. There is usually a limit to what lawyers can ask for a fee, but it is also possible to negotiate. In case the lawyer agrees to take the workers’ compensation claim on a contingency fee and your claim is denied, you don’t have to pay anything.
Hiring a reliable lawyer can matter for your workers’ compensation claim in Virginia. Consider consulting an attorney as soon as you can, but before that, inform your employer about the injury and accident.
