What you need to know about attorney fees in work injury cases

There are two important things to know about attorney fees in workers? compensation cases. The first is that Illinois law limits an attorney?s fee to 20% in these cases. This is lower than your typical injury case fee. The second thing to know is that the attorneys we recommend do not take 20% out of your weekly checks for lost wages or your medical bill payments unless they have to do significant work and fight for what you?re owed. In other words, if you have a routine case, they should not charge you a fee to help you file your claim.

Workers? compensation attorneys are paid a contingency fee, which means they only earn a fee if they are successful in your case. If they get you a settlement or award after trial, they get paid. If you lose, you don?t pay. In typical injury cases, the contingency fee is 33%; in a work injury case, it?s limited to 20%.

Many cases settle, and in our experience having an attorney negotiating on your behalf results in a higher settlement amount. A fee would be earned in this situation, but also in one where the insurance company has refused benefits. Your attorney can request a hearing and argue your case in front of an arbitrator. If you win, and the arbitrator says that the insurance company owes you for past benefits, then your attorney earns a fee on that. If the arbitrator rules against you, there is no fee.

Don?t hesitate to ask your attorney about how their fee works. You deserve to know ? and understand ? the details. Even if you have to switch attorneys, your fee should not exceed 20%. If you want to know more about legal fees in workers? compensation cases, feel free to contact us.

We are workers' compensation attorneys who help people with Illinois work injuries anywhere in IL via our statewide network of attorneys.?Contact us?and we will answer your questions or find the right lawyer for your situation.

11/22/12

Source: http://www.illinoisworkerscomplaw.com/2012/11/articles/repetitive-trauma/what-you-need-to-know-about-attorney-fees-in-work-injury-cases/

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