A recent streak of calls presented a bunch of red flags to us. So in the hope that it will help someone out, here are three warning signs when it comes to hiring an attorney for an Illinois work injury.
Don’t let the lawyer direct your medical care: If you want a recommendation of a good doctor then ask your lawyer; if your lawyer has an opinion about a doctor or your treatment they can offer it. But we are lawyers, not doctors. I get calls once a week from doctors that want me to send my clients to them and offer to send their patients to me. It loses me a lot of money to turn that down, but we do because it is un-ethical. If your doctor wants you to work with a certain lawyer or your lawyer wants you with a certain doctor then it just smells wrong.
What other areas of law does your lawyer handle: We typically suggest you get someone that does nothing but workers comp. That said, personal injury, social security and employment law are natural extensions of workers comp. On the other hand, if your attorney is also taking on divorce, criminal defense, estate planning, immigration, etc. it should make you wonder how much they really know about workers compensation laws in Illinois.
Are they assigning a brand new attorney to your file?: Every lawyer has to start somewhere, but do you want them starting their career on your case? I wouldn’t, especially if it’s a tough one. We had a recent call where a law firm assigned a case of a steel worker with a herniated disc to an attorney who was admitted to practice law in November. Saying that a senior partner will supervise the file is a load of crap in our opinion. They certainly aren’t on the phone when you have questions and they aren’t on the phone or in court with the young lawyer. If the attorney on your case hasn’t been doing workers comp for at least seven years we think you are short changing yourself.
We are workers’ compensation attorneys that 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.
