How to Choose a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer and What to Expect

At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, our Delaware workers’ compensation attorneys are here to protect your right to fair compensation when you have suffered an injury in the workplace. We offer free consultations in our Seaford, Newark and Wilmington offices to review your case and answer your questions.

You have suffered a serious workplace injury, but you are facing nothing but challenges from your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer and even the Delaware Workers’ Compensation Commission. What you thought would be a routine claim has just gotten complicated and you have been advised to hire an attorney. Where to start? Here are some questions and criteria to consider when it comes down to choosing a workers’ compensation lawyer to represent your interests.

What can a workers’ compensation attorney do for me?

When you have an experienced Delaware workers’ compensation lawyer representing your interests, you greatly improve your chances of getting all of the benefits that are due to you. You are going up against an adversarial system that was designed for lawyers, and unless you happen to be an expert negotiator and are fully versed in the workers’ compensation system in Delaware, you would do well to hire someone who is. A good attorney will gather solid medical evidence, be adept at negotiating a favorable settlement for you and will represent you in the hearing. Your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer’s lawyers are under a mandate to pay out as little as possible. You lawyer knows the law, knows the value of your case and knows how to make sure that you receive everything that is coming to you.

A workers’ compensation attorney will:

• Gather medical evidence
• Depose medical experts
• Obtain specialized medical opinions
• Calculate the value of your physical limitations
• Estimate future medical costs
• Negotiate with the insurance company lawyers
• Represent you in any third-party personal injury claims

Questions to ask when considering which lawyer to hire

Most workers’ compensation attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means that they get paid when they win compensation for you. They often offer a free consultation, which creates a good opportunity for you to ask them questions and it gives the attorney the opportunity to quickly estimate the value of your case and whether it is something that makes sense for them to take on. Here are a few questions you might ask when you are choosing a workers’ compensation attorney:

• How long have you been representing clients with workers’ compensation claims?
• Do you take other types of cases or do you focus exclusively on workers’ compensation cases?
• Do you prefer to settle claims? Do you represent clients in administrative hearings?
• How much do you estimate that my case is worth?
• Does my case seem to be strong enough?
• Will you keep me updated on progress with my case? How responsive are you?
• Can I call with questions?
• What percentage do you charge?
• Can you estimate how much additional legal expenses I might be expected to pay?

Making the final choice

If you interview a handful of potential attorneys, it will become clear very quickly which ones feel right to you and which ones you would prefer not to work with. Aside from any rapport that you have been able to develop with a particular candidate, ask yourself which one had the most relevant experience, who made you feel confident about your prospects and which attorney do you feel that you can trust and would want to work with? It will be a combination of what you feel in your gut and your impression of their experience, skill and confidence.

Choosing the right Delaware workers’ compensation attorney is not an easy task. At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, we want to make it easier for you. We are here to protect your rights to fair compensation and to represent your interests. You are welcome to call 302-888-2900 fill out our contact form to make an appointment for a free consultation at our offices in Wilmington, Newark or Seaford today.

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