How should an individual go about selecting an attorney in a workers’ compensation case?
Almost all experienced workers’ compensation attorneys operate on a contingent fee basis. This means that their fee is based upon a percentage of the amount they recover for you. No fee is paid unless the attorney is successful in obtaining benefits or preserving benefits that the insurance carrier attempted to reduce or terminate. The most important element is the experience of the attorney you select to represent you. The standard fee in workers’ compensation cases is 20% of past and/or future compensation. You should specifically inquire as to the number of weeks of past and/or future compensation from which the fee will be deducted, as well as clarifying who is responsible for the costs of litigation. The amount of the fee and the responsibility for the costs of litigation should always be known before signing a fee agreement.
