If you are thinking about hiring a lawyer for help with your claim, you might wonder how workers’ compensation lawyers get paid in Los Angeles.
An attorney can start working on your case without taking payment. This arrangement is called a “contingency fee agreement,” which means your lawyer will receive payment for their services if you recover your financial settlement.
Hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer can take a weight off your shoulders, especially if you have a complicated case or your claim has been denied. A lawyer can protect you and help you prove your claim. They can also appeal against a denial of your claim.
Most lawyers handling workers’ compensation cases in Los Angeles do not charge upfront attorney’s fees.
Contingency Fee Agreement
As the American Bar Association (ABA) notes, lawyers and clients typically work under a contingency fee arrangement in workers’ compensation claims. In a contingency fee agreement, the lawyer will receive a fixed percentage of the final settlement if you win your case. If you lose your case and do not recover a settlement, you do not have to pay the attorney for the time spent and work done on your case.
Contingency fee agreements can be advantageous for clients. They do not have the same financial risk as someone who is paying an attorney an hourly fee or a retainer for their work. However, contingency fee percentages can vary widely as not all lawyers take the same percentage in workers’ compensation cases. There are also some workers’ compensation lawyers who do work for an hourly fee.
Therefore, to avoid any surprises, make sure you address the topic of fees in your first consultation with your prospective lawyer. This can help you avoid any surprises when you receive your settlement. It is important that you know the fee structure before hiring a lawyer to represent you.
What a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Can Do for You
You might wish to consider hiring a lawyer if you suffered serious and potentially lifelong injuries due to an accident at work. Working with an attorney throughout the claims process can pay off. Your lawyer’s main goal is to obtain all the benefits that you are entitled to receive.
They will protect your interests and fight for your rights. They can also assess your claim fully by investigating all options for recovering compensation, including lawsuits. A lawyer can help you in several ways, including but not limited to:
- Advising you on your legal options
- Guiding you through the workers’ compensation claim process
- Performing legal research
- Filing the necessary legal paperwork for your claim
- Providing medical experts for testimony
- Gathering evidence to prove your damages and losses
- Establishing an employer or third-party’s negligence
- Negotiating a fair settlement with the workers’ compensation insurance company
- Representing you at trial and hearings
- Appealing against a denied claim
- Initiate lawsuits against third parties if applicable
Benefits You Could Recover
A workers’ compensation lawyer’s main goal is to pursue the compensation and benefits that you deserve due to your work injury or work-related health condition. If your claim is successful, you could recover the following benefits:
- Medical expenses and future medical expenses
- Income losses
- Permanent or temporary disability benefits
- Vocational rehabilitation expenses
- A lump-sum or structured settlement
You may wish to hire a workers’ compensation lawyer immediately after you suffered your accident and injury while on the job, particularly if you have significant and life-altering injuries or a pre-existing condition that complicates your claim. A lawyer can protect you, deal with paperwork, and work on the claims process while freeing you up to recover from your injury.
However, there are cases where you might not need an attorney. If you suffered only a minor injury and lost little to no work time, your case will be fairly straightforward, which means you will most likely not need a lawyer. An initial case evaluation with a workers’ compensation lawyer can help you understand your claim and your needs when it comes to legal representation.
Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Now
Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today with any questions you have about your claim. We can advise you on how workers’ compensation lawyers get paid in Los Angeles and many other workers’ compensation-related issues. We can also inform you about the course of action to take so that you pursue all the benefits that you deserve.
Timely action can be important for your workers’ compensation claim. In California, according to California Labor Code (LAB) §5405, you generally only have one year to file a workers’ compensation claim. The time starts ticking down on the date of your injury. Therefore, if you do not act promptly, you may not be able to recover any benefits.
We can help you file your claim and protect your legal rights. Call us now for your free case evaluation at (800) 529-9122.