We created a state wide network of Illinois work comp attorneys. Our feeling is that there’s no one best lawyer for every case, but rather each case is unique. If you work for United Airlines, we want to make sure the lawyer you hire has taken on cases against them successfully many times in the past. That’s because there can be unique factors when it comes to cases with them. Same for Jewel, Walmart and many other companies.

In other instances, the location of the case determines who you should hire. For whatever reason, a lot of Chicago work comp attorneys are trying to take on cases in southern Illinois. They can, but I personally don’t think that’s a good idea in most circumstances. A recent chat I had with a great Madison County work comp attorney shows why.

He had taken over a case from a Chicago attorney and it was all screwed up. The reason that is true is that the doctors in the case were heavily favoring the insurance company. Although the accident was in Illinois, the medical care happened in Saint Louis.

Long story short is the injured worker unknowingly went to an orthopedic doctor who regularly handles work comp cases for Missouri insurance companies. As a result he likes to curry favor with them. This lawyer told me that the reputation of this doctor is well known by the local attorneys.

Of course this reputation was not well known by the Chicago lawyers. So they didn’t warn their client against seeing this doctor and now their case is upside down.

This wasn’t just a one off unlucky situation. This attorney tells me there are a lot of Saint Louis doctors who are really tied to insurance companies as they make a lot of money off the MO work comp system. He said that while he doesn’t make his clients see any particular doctor, he does warn them of ones to steer clear of.

This is just one example, but it really shows that you can have a great case and lose due to the dumbest of reasons that aren’t your fault. It’s something an attorney who regularly practices in your area would know. It’s always a good idea to ask your lawyer what they know about your doctor. If the answer is nothing then they should ask around and find out.

The reality is that there are a ton of amazing orthopedic doctors in Saint Louis. You don’t have to avoid all of them. You just need to know which ones to avoid. And that takes someone in the know.

If you’d like our recommendation of a great southern Illinois work comp law firm, call us any time at 312-346-5578.