If you were injured on the job, hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer is almost always a smart move. Not only will he or she help you understand the associated paperwork and official jargon, your attorney will assist you in preparing your case and accompany you to your deposition. Basically, an attorney acts as your legal guru and personal guide throughout the entire workers’ compensation process.
“HIRE A WORKERS’ COMPENSATION LAWYER? THAT SOUNDS EXPENSIVE. THERE’S NO WAY I CAN AFFORD THAT.”
Actually, you can! That’s the big difference between workers’ compensation lawyers and attorneys in other fields, such as family law practice. The sky-high fees people typically associate with hiring a lawyer come in the form of a “retainer.” A retainer is an agreed-upon amount of money that a client pays his or her lawyer up front, which is then used to pay monthly invoices. The amount of this retainer is usually staggering, as it needs to be large enough to cover all of the anticipated work the lawyer will do on his or her client’s behalf.
At The Law Office of Matthew Russell in San Diego, we never charge our clients a retainer fee. In fact, there are no up-front costs whatsoever. This comes as a huge relief for those who have recently suffered a workplace injury. After all, money is already tight. Not only are you paying medical bills, you’re also missing out on wages you would’ve made had you been able to work. Through eliminating up-front fees, even workers with limited resources have the chance to receive legal representation.
“IF THERE ARE NO UP-FRONT COSTS OR FEES, WHEN DO I HAVE TO PAY MY WORKERS COMP LAWYER?”
Workers’ compensation cases are handled on a contingency fee basis. In other words, if you win your case, your lawyer receives a percentage of your settlement. If you lose, you don’t have to pay a dime. This model provides a big incentive for your workers’ compensation lawyer to work hard to obtain maximum benefits. In most cases, injured workers receive greater benefits, even after paying the attorney’s fees, than those who choose not to hire an attorney. This is because workers’ compensation lawyers have the experience and knowledge needed to navigate the complicated legal system.
HOW MUCH DOES A WORKERS’ COMPENSATION LAWYER COST IN SAN DIEGO?
The laws and regulations dealing with attorney’s fees vary depending on where you live. In California, the workers’ compensation judge will authorize a fee of 10%, 12%, or 15%, according to the complexity of your case. In a case where you settle for $40,000, your attorney’s fee could be anywhere from $4,000 to $6,000. Again, these are not out-of-pocket fees. The amount paid to your workers’ compensation lawyer comes directly out of your settlement.
If you’ve been injured at work and are thinking about filing a workers’ compensation claim or if your claim has already been denied, don’t hesitate to contact us. The promise of zero up-front costs removes the financial stress from hiring an attorney to protect your best interest during this difficult time.
At The Law Office of Matthew Russell, we do everything in our power to help injured workers collect the maximum benefits for which they’re eligible. We’d be honored to provide you with the same services tailored to your unique circumstances. Call us today at (619) 544-1506 to schedule your free initial consultation.