After getting hurt at work, you probably dread the idea of consulting a workers’ compensation attorney in Camden County or the surrounding areas. The prospect of paying tons of money to try to recoup the insurance benefits you might have gotten through workers’ compensation might seem like a less than profitable prospect at best. There is good news, though: the workers’ compensation system was designed to be affordable for anyone who has been injured on the job.
Here are some of the most common questions people have about paying for a workers’ compensation attorney.
Do I Have to Pay Anything Up Front?
No injured worker has to pay a dime to file a claim in the New Jersey workers’ compensation system. Instead, attorneys in the workers’ compensation field are paid using a “contingency fee” model, where you aren’t required to pay anything unless your attorney wins your case.
So, why help injured workers? While a contingency fee might be less secure than paying a fee upfront, most workers’ compensation attorneys understand that getting the benefits injured workers are entitled to can be a long and winding process. A contingency fee allows attorneys to devote the necessary resources to help their clients without worrying about how much the worker is making.
Who’s Responsible for Payment?
A contingency fee might sound great when you first hear about it, but you might wonder how that fee will cut into your benefits if you win your case.
The fee is often set by the court judge when a decision is made. The general expectation is that legal fees will consist of twenty percent of the final amount, with the insurance company paying sixty percent of those fees. However, if the case is not won, clients don’t have to pay anything at all!
Do I Need a Lawyer?
Even though you don’t need to pay anything to file a claim, you might be wondering if you even have to consult a lawyer after being injured on the job. It’s tempting to forgo the headaches posed by trying to file a claim when you’ve been denied your workers’ compensation benefits.
Since there aren’t any upfront costs, it’s always worth talking with an attorney who has the experience needed to assess your case. With the help of an initial consultation to go over your case, you can quickly determine whether you believe proceeding with a case would be a good idea. Depending on the circumstances, appealing a denial of benefits has helped injured workers get the help they need to return to work.
To find out more about how attorneys get paid, or to schedule a consultation with a South Jersey workers’ compensation law firm, call the Law Offices of Vincent J. Ciecka today.
