Questions When Choosing a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
By William Gregory
When you are injured at work your employer should have workers’ compensation insurance, commonly referred to as “work comp.” In most cases workers’ compensation insurance in Pennsylvania covers a certain percentage of your lost wages, depending on your average weekly wage, and it covers the medical bills that are reasonable, necessary and related to the accepted work injury. Many times the insurance company handling your employer’s “work comp” does not accept your injury or denies medical bills or medical treatment, at which time most people seek the help of a lawyer. Other times, your injury may be accepted, but you do not know if the treatment you are receiving or the amount of wage coverage you are receiving is correct. In these instances, we always recommend seeking the advice of an accomplished “work comp” attorney. But how do you know which attorney to choose. The following are a few questions that you should ask any attorney you consult regarding your work injury.
- How long have you been practicing work injury cases?
- How often are you in court on a “work comp” matter?
- What percentage of your practice is devoted to workers’ compensation?
- Have you successfully handled all types of workers’ compensation petitions?
- Have you settled “work comp” cases, and if so, in what value ranges?
- Are you familiar with the local judicial practices and requirements?
- Do you allow the client to decide on settlement value?
- Do you front the costs of prosecution?
- For what is the client responsible if the case is not successful?
- Are you accessible as much the as the client needs?
These are just a few examples that any knowledgeable workers’ compensation lawyer should answer, and the answers should give you the peace of mind you deserve when going through a work injury. At Rankin & Gregory, LLC, both Chad Rankin and Bill Gregory have extensive experience in handling work injury cases. We handle cases all over central and eastern Pennsylvania, including Elizabethtown, Columbia, Lancaster City, Neffsville, Hempfield Township, Manheim, Manor Township, Manheim Township, Gap, Ephrata, Lititz, Mt. Joy, Marietta, Akron, Denver, Millersville, Willow Street, Strasburg, New Holland, Paradise, Quarryville, Leola and Reamstown. We also serve clients in the counties of York, Dauphin, Philadelphia, Chester and Berks.
