If you’ve suffered an injury on the job and have decided to file for workers’ compensation benefits, having a good relationship with your attorney will be crucial to your success. A workers’ compensation lawyer acts as a liaison between you and your employer, so feeling comfortable and confident in his or her ability to win the case is vital. Above all, it’s important that you’re satisfied with the level of trust and communication in the relationship. If any of these critical components are missing, it might be time to seek representation elsewhere.
How to Change Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
At The Law Office of Matthew Russell, our attorneys have over 45 years of experience helping injured workers receive the benefits they’re entitled to. In this time, we have developed a reputation for being among the most knowledgeable, aggressive, and ethical workers’ compensation attorneys in the San Diego area. If you are unhappy with the representation you’ve received thus far and are thinking about switching lawyers, you can certainly do so, even in the middle of your case. That said, there are a few things to think about before deciding to terminate your existing client-attorney relationship.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO SWITCH ATTORNEYS?
Before taking any action, it’s important to think about why you want to switch attorneys. Here are a few of the most common reasons why injured workers choose to switch attorneys in the middle of their case. If any of these situations sound familiar, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and call us.
YOUR LAWYER HAS FAILED TO KEEP YOU IN THE LOOP ABOUT THE STATUS OF YOUR CASE
A good attorney will return your phone calls and keep you updated about the progress of your workers’ compensation case. If you consistently have a hard time reaching your lawyer, you may have cause for concern.
YOUR SAN DIEGO LAWYER LACKS EXPERTISE IN WORKERS’ COMPENSATION LAW
If your attorney doesn’t seem to understand the nuances of workers’ compensation law, this is a red flag. An attorney who regularly handles workers’ compensation cases will have a vast knowledge of the legal issues in your case, which will allow him or her to efficiently move the process forward.
YOUR WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CASE IS TAKING LONGER THAN EXPECTED
Honestly, nothing happens quickly in a workers’ compensation case. But if your attorney doesn’t appear to be doing any work on your case, you are well within your rights to ask about what steps he or she has taken to advocate on your behalf. At this point, if you are dissatisfied, it might be time to seek a new lawyer.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ATTORNEY’S FEE?
In a workers’ compensation case, there are no out-of-pocket fees for enlisting the help of an attorney. He or she only takes a small percentage of the benefits awarded to you at the end of your case. When you switch representation half way through, your former attorney works out a deal with your new attorney based on the amount of work that has been performed by each individual. Often, the two attorneys split the fee. Other times, specific dollar values are worked out instead. In any case, there’s nothing you need to worry about when it comes to which lawyer gets paid for representing you. All you need to focus on is getting better.
IT’S TIME TO GET THE REPRESENTATION IN SAN DIEGO YOU DESERVE
When you’re trying to obtain the workers’ compensation benefits you need to make a full recovery, you need a lawyer who will fight hard on your behalf. At The Law Office of Matthew Russell, we understand how frustrating it can be to work with an attorney who isn’t doing enough to win your case. If you feel you’ve been working with a passive observer rather than a zealous supporter who will go above and beyond to advocate on your behalf, give us a call.
When you come in for your free, initial consultation, we’ll review your case and advise you on the next steps. You don’t even have to communicate with your existing lawyer if you don’t want to. We can do that for you – and a lot more. Contact us today by calling (619) 544-1506 to take the first step towards receiving the quality representation you deserve. We look forward to speaking with you