A good workers’ compensation attorney understands that your actual injury is just one part of what you’re going through. While it’s technically not within their expertise to look after your mental health or your finances or your family, they can’t adequately represent your legal interests if they’re blind to the rest of the issues in your life. Most of these may be occurring as a result of your work injury, so they’re certainly related.
A serious work injury can weigh on you. You aren’t feeling well physically, you can’t work and earn the living you had been earning, you have bills and debts to pay, your family is counting on you, and the future is uncertain. These are common side effects of a work injury, or any serious injury. Additional injuries, setbacks and depression aren’t uncommon either.
For an Illinois workers’ compensation attorney, all aspects of the injured worker’s life are relevant. For example, your attorney should help you figure out how to deal with collections agencies, if you’ve been unable to pay your bills. Also, your attorney should negotiate your settlement with your entire situation in mind. Some people can afford to negotiate at length and wait for the “full” amount that they feel their case is worth; others need the money from settlement as quickly as possible and might settle for less. This doesn’t mean they didn’t win, just that they worked with their attorney to get the best outcome for them, in their unique set of circumstances.
They don’t teach you this stuff in law school. It’s an additional set of skills that a practicing attorney develops over time. We generally recommend Illinois attorneys with many years of experience, and this is one reason why we do that. Your workers’ compensation attorney should not only be aware of your stress and confusion at a difficult time, but they should be prepared to help you deal with it.
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.