How Much Do Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Charge?
Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry Cochran
If you have been injured at work, seek compensation for your losses resulting from the accident. Hiring an attorney familiar with workers’ compensation law can help protect your rights and prevent insurance companies and your employer from taking advantage of you during this challenging time.
When you’re off work and facing financial difficulties, you’re likely unable to afford hefty legal fees. This is especially true when you depend on social security benefits. The law in Michigan seeks to redress this unfair bias by allowing workers’ compensation cases to be dealt with on a contingency fee basis.
Our personal injury lawyers at Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. have an outstanding record dealing with workers’ compensation claims. They can give you trustworthy legal advice on pursuing your claim and getting the compensation you are entitled to for your injury.
What Can I Claim For Under Workers’ Compensation?
In Michigan, the workers’ compensation scheme gives workers injured on the job certain benefits. To be eligible, the employee must have suffered a work-related illness or injury. The benefits provided include compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of body parts or use of parts of the body
- Other benefits for employees who were permanently or totally disabled
How Does a Contingency Fee Work?
A contingency fee is sometimes known as no win no fee, and it’s as simple as it sounds. You don’t pay your lawyer until they successfully win your case. The benefits of contingency fees are significant, allowing more people to seek legal advice because there is no financial risk involved.
This is an excellent scheme for injured employees because they don’t have to worry about paying a lawyer’s fees. More workers can seek representation from a workers’ compensation lawyer and protect their rights by removing the financial obstacle.
Do I Have to Pay Any Upfront Fees?
Workers’ comp attorneys usually pay the advance court costs and expenses on behalf of their injured worker client. It can cost several thousand dollars to get a case ready for trial.
Typical costs of preparation include:
- Acquiring medical records
- Doctors depositions
- Vocational experts reports and testimony
- Court reports for witnesses deposed
It is necessary to incur these expenses and collect this evidence. Without it, there is little prospect of achieving a settlement or winning your case in court.
Many lawyers also offer a free consultation to evaluate your case before you commit to hiring them.
How Much Do I Have to Pay My Lawyers if They Win My Case?
In Michigan, the amount that a workers’ comp lawyer can charge on a contingency basis is restricted by law.
- If the claim is disputed, the workers’ comp attorneys fees are 15% of the first $25,000 recovered in the settlement. After that, your attorney can charge 10% of the settlement balance if the case is litigated and an agreement is reached before trial.
- If an agreement is reached while your workers’ comp benefits are still being paid and the case is not ligitaged, your attorney can charge 10% of the settlement amount.
- If the claim is disputed but later settled voluntarily, the workers’ comp attorney’s fees are 30% of the settlement.
- If the case is successful at trial, your attorney will be paid 30% of past due benefits.
If You Have Suffered a Workplace Injury Consult a Workers’ Comp Attorney
It can be stressful to consider hiring a lawyer to pursue workers’ comp benefits when you’re in financial distress. However, legal caps on what lawyers in Michigan can charge and the common practice of working on contingency make legal representation accessible.
Our workers’ compensation lawyers at Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. can answer your questions regarding workers’ compensation benefits and claims, social security disability benefits, and returning to work after an accident.
Our contingency fee basis means we only get paid if we win your case, so there is no financial risk to you to get started. Call our law firm today at 866-MICH-LAW and schedule your no-obligation, free case evaluation.
Disclaimer : The information provided is general and not for legal advice. The blogs are not intended to provide legal counsel and no attorney-client relationship is created nor intended.