8 Signs to Tell You It’s Time to Change Your Workers’ Comp Lawyer

According to the numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2.7 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses were reported by private employers for the year 2020. In 2019, the total costs of workplace injuries were $171 billion, with workers’ compensation averaging around $42,008 per claim.

As you can see, getting injured at work is expensive. While employers and insurers usually cover the costs, it’s not always a given. Claims are often contested, denied, and the severity of injuries downplayed.

To traverse these complicated waters, an experienced workers comp lawyer in Reading, PA, is always considered a huge help. Until they stop acting like one.

While no one wants to change lawyers – it can be a headache – below are 8 signs to know when it is time to fire your current one and look for someone more efficient and compassionate.

Communication with them is always vague and confusing

The number 1 sign that you have hired the wrong guy is when you end up feeling confused and overwhelmed every time you talk to them. A workers’ comp attorney is supposed to help you understand and simplify the comp process. If they keep throwing technicalities around and do not feel the need to clarify your doubts, it’s time to drop them.

They hide things or lie to you

Just like you are never supposed to lie or hide things from your lawyer, they also need to be one hundred percent honest with you – no matter how disappointing the news. As a client, you deserve to know what is going on with your case. If that’s not happening, if your workers’ comp lawyer is hiding things from you, lying to you, or trying to cover things up, you need to break free.

They refuse to file third-party claims

Often, your workers' compensation claims can be used to file third-party lawsuits. For example, if you are a truck driver for your company, and get hit by a drunk driver, you are entitled to file a personal injury claim against that driver. If your lawyer refuses or stalls to file any accompanying claim, you are better off with someone who doesn’t shy away from hard work and is serious about getting you your dues.

They miss an important deadline

If you have hired a specialized workers’ comp attorney in Reading, PA, know that these people are trained to not miss any important deadlines. Such a thing may cause your settlement payments to stop coming in, a jittery witness to change their mind, or a Judge to strike in favor of your employer. If missed deadlines or meetings are a usual thing with your lawyer, you have not hired the right person for the job.

There’s a lack of respect from the legal community

The PA workers’ comp lawyers are a close-knit community. When you visit your lawyer’s office or go to court with them and sense that they are not a respected member of the community, you may need to let them go. This lack of respect can be translated into you getting a smaller comp settlement, or a Judge not taking your lawyer’s arguments seriously.

They are always busy and unfamiliar with your case’s details

Most large firms have multiple divisions and innumerable cases that they deal with every day. A busy lawyer in one such firm does not have the time, focus, or attention to detail that every single workers’ comp case requires. When you talk to your lawyer and they feel unfamiliar with the details of your case, most likely your case is being handled by a paralegal.

Their billing methods are unclear

Most PA worker injury lawyers work on a contingency basis. Meaning, they get paid when you get paid. If your lawyer is sending you billed hours (they pile up so quickly!) you may want to consider a professional worker comp lawyer in Reading, PA who is willing to work with you on contingency-fee.

You don’t feel they are the right fit for you

The most telltale sign that you have hired the wrong comp lawyer is your gut telling you so. When you don’t feel one-hundred percent comfortable with them and have trouble asking questions, it is not the most conducive client-lawyer relationship. It’s better to get out of it sooner rather than later.

What to do after you fire your lawyer?

Hire a new one. Someone more professional, compassionate, and respectable in the community. With Cardamone Law, you get all that and more. We are a dedicated law firm focused on dealing with worker comp cases and nothing else. We offer you free, no-obligation, same-day consultations. We also work on a contingency-fee – we get paid when you get paid. And while we are trained in trial court combat, we prefer negotiating cases and getting our clients speedy, generous, out-of-court settlements.