How Much Will My Worker's Compensation Case Cost?

What is the difference between a workers' compensation case and a personal injury case? To begin, your attorney will most likely charge you on a contingency basis in both cases. What is the main distinction between workers' compensation and personal injury then?

First and foremost, what is a contingency fee? Will you have to pay anything upfront? You are usually only going to have to pay attorney's fees if your lawyer wins your case, and everything you owe them will simply be taken out of your settlement as a pre-defined percentage.

After you have been hurt on the job you may be asking yourself, will I have to pay for my workers' compensation attorney's fees upfront? Most of the time, when you have a contingency fee, no. You need to hear it again: you will only be required to pay attorney's fees if you win your case, and the fees will be a percentage that is taken out of your settlement.

What's the difference between the way that personal injury attorneys and workers' compensation attorney charge?

First, there is a limit--depending on your state--on how much your worker's compensation attorney can charge for attorney's fees. In Illinois, for example, the cap is 20% of your settlement, and in Missouri it is 25%.

The attorneys' fees cap is a good thing for workers who are hurt on the job. Another benefit of the workers' compensation attorney's fees cap is that it means that all attorneys will charge basically the same amount. You don't have to look for the cheapest lawyer possible, you can look for the best workers' compensation attorney without having to compare prices.

Remember: Everybody may charge about the same contingency fee--but not everybody can get the best final settlement. How can you tell who is the best workers' compensation attorney? To begin, always look for someone who has your interest at heart by providing you with as much quality informational material as possible. Next, you should understand that most workers' compensation attorneys have free consultations, so it is good to talk to an attorney first to see if they are a good match for your needs!