If you have been injured or fallen ill on the job in Wisconsin, you will want to talk to a workers’ compensation lawyer promptly. There are many ways a workers’ compensation lawyer can help you in this scenario; and, if you have a claim, there are many benefits to putting an experienced lawyer on your side.

When you hire a lawyer to represent you, you are entitled to certain expectations. Knowing what to expect can help you make an informed decision about hiring a lawyer, and it can also help you feel more comfortable and confident moving forward.

What to Expect When You Hire a Lawyer to Handle Your Workers’ Compensation Claim in Wisconsin

So, what can (and should) you expect from your workers’ compensation lawyer? Here are 10 things you can expect when you hire an experienced lawyer to handle your workers’ compensation claim in Wisconsin:

1. A Free, No-Obligation Consultation

The first thing you can expect is a free, no-obligation consultation. When you contact a law firm that handles workers’ compensation claims, the firm should work with you to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Taking action promptly can be important for protecting your legal rights, so you will want to talk to a lawyer about your claim for benefits as soon as possible.

2. No Out-of-Pocket Cost Legal Representation

Along with providing a free initial consultation, your workers’ compensation lawyer will also provide no out-of-pocket cost legal representation. This means you pay nothing unless your lawyer helps you secure the benefits you deserve. If your lawyer helps you collect disability benefits for your work-related injury or illness, your legal fees will be calculated as a percentage of the benefits your lawyer helps you recover. Since your lawyer only gets paid if your claim is successful, your lawyer has an even greater incentive to provide effective legal representation.

3. A Clear Explanation of Your Legal Rights

Throughout your workers’ compensation claim, you can expect your lawyer to clearly explain your legal rights. This includes (but is not limited to) your rights regarding:

  • Your choice of healthcare providers
  • The benefits you are entitled to receive
  • How your employer (or its insurance company) handles your claim

Understanding your legal rights is important because it will help you make informed decisions throughout the process. If you don’t know your rights, you could make mistakes that prevent you from collecting the full benefits you deserve.

4. A Clear Understanding of the Benefits You Are Entitled to Receive

Speaking of the benefits you deserve, you can also expect your lawyer to clearly explain the medical and disability benefits you are entitled to receive for your work-related injury or illness. This includes not only explaining the types of benefits you are entitled to receive, but also how much you are entitled to receive and for how long. These are all key pieces of information you need to ensure that you do not give up on your claim or settle your claim too soon.

5. Commitment to Your Best Interests

When you hire a lawyer to handle your workers’ compensation claim, you can expect your lawyer to be fully committed to your best interests. An experienced workers’ compensation lawyer will understand what it is like to be in your situation, and will want to help you effectively assert your legal rights by all means available.

Not only will your lawyer have a financial interest in helping you collect the benefits you deserve, but your lawyer will have an ethical responsibility to put your best interests first as well. Additionally, many workers’ compensation lawyers (including ours) do what they do because they are truly passionate about helping people in your shoes.

6. The Advice You Need to Protect Yourself

Even though workers’ compensation is a no-fault system in Wisconsin, collecting the benefits you deserve won’t be easy. Employers and their insurance companies routinely dispute injured and sick workers’ claims for benefits. To collect the benefits you deserve, you will need to be very careful to protect yourself. You can expect your lawyer to provide the advice you need.

7. Direct Communication on Your Behalf

You can also expect your lawyer to communicate directly with your employer and its insurance company on your behalf. When you have a workers’ compensation claim, effective communication is vital. Relying on his or her experience, your lawyer will be able to present the evidence needed to establish your right for benefits, deal with any issues that arise, and negotiate for a fair settlement while you focus on getting better.

8. Representation Throughout the Workers’ Compensation Claim Process

From filing your workers’ compensation claim to negotiating a settlement or filing an appeal if necessary, your lawyer will provide representation throughout the workers’ compensation claim process. You will be able to rely on your lawyer’s advice and representation every step of the way, and you will be able to feel confident that your claim is being handled effectively.

9. Advice Regarding When (and If) to Settle

For many injured and sick workers, negotiating a settlement is the best-case scenario. If it makes sense to try to settle your workers’ compensation claim, your lawyer will negotiate for a fair settlement on your behalf. If a settlement offer is on the table, your lawyer will also help you make an informed decision about whether to accept the offer based on whether it provides adequate compensation for the costs of your work-related injury or illness.

10. Assistance with Any Other Claims You May Have

Finally, you can expect your lawyer to provide assistance with any other claims you may have as well. For example, injured workers will also have grounds to file a personal injury claim in some cases. If you have a claim outside of workers’ compensation, your lawyer can assist you with seeking any additional compensation to which you are legally entitled.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Madison Workers’ Compensation Lawyer at Mays Law Office

Are you interested in speaking with a Madison workers’ compensation lawyer? If so, we invite you to get in touch. Give us a call at 608-305-4518 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation today.

The post What Can (and Should) You Expect from Your Workers’ Compensation Lawyer? appeared first on Mays Law Office.

Mays Law

Lisa Pierobon Mays

Attorney Lisa Pierobon Mays, as the owner of Mays Law Office focuses her legal practice on representing Wisconsin workers who have been injured on the job. With more than twenty-five years of experience, she is dedicated to advocating for injured…

Lisa Pierobon Mays

Attorney Lisa Pierobon Mays, as the owner of Mays Law Office focuses her legal practice on representing Wisconsin workers who have been injured on the job. With more than twenty-five years of experience, she is dedicated to advocating for injured workers who have been unfairly denied their rightful workers’ compensation benefits by companies and their insurers. Lisa understands the profound impact of a work injury, including lost income, medical expenses, emotional distress, physical pain, and social isolation. She takes the time to listen to each client and develops a tailored legal strategy for their specific situation. Lisa is personally involved in every case from beginning to end, ensuring clear communication and recognizing the unique concerns, needs, and expectations of each individual she represents.

Stephen Mays

Attorney Mays, as the owner of Mays Law Office, LLC, practices in all areas of criminal and traffic defense throughout the entire State of Wisconsin. Prior to his becoming a defense attorney, Attorney Mays worked in the Dane County District Attorney’s office.

He has won OWI cases at the municipal, circuit, appellate and Supreme Court levels, and appears regularly before the Federal District Court of Wisconsin and the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. He is also admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.

He is a past President and member of the Dane County Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Association, as well as a sustaining member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Bar Associations for the Western and Eastern Districts of Wisconsin. He has been a member of the James E. Doyle Inns of Court, as well as the National College for DUI Defense. He is one of the original members of the Drunk Driving Roundtable – an association of attorneys dedicated to the tenacious defense of citizens accused of drunk driving.

He was selected to be a member of the Department of Transportation’s Technical Committee, and has testified before various committees regarding proposed motor vehicle legislation, most recently convincing a sub-committee to not extend the territorial boundaries for OWI enforcement. He is a frequent lecturer on the defense of intoxicated driving, which includes an annual presentation by the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in the “Strategies in Handling OWI Cases in Wisconsin” series, a seminar touted as a “must attend” for Wisconsin lawyers defending OWI cases.

Several of Attorney Mays’ cases have attracted substantial media attention, including the successful defense of an individual charged with killing his twin infant daughters while allegedly driving drunk. His cross-examination techniques have gained him statewide recognition as one which has police officers persuading prosecutors to amend charges so as to not have to subject them to his cross-examination again.

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