DON’T BLAME YOUR LAWYER

DON’T BLAME YOUR LAWYER

By Chad Snow, Founding Partner

HAVING A WORK INJURY IS FRUSTRATING.  WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE INJURED WORKER’S INCOME IS CUT OFF, HE OR SHE IS IN PAIN, AND THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY AND SOCIAL LIFE IS DISRUPTED, SOMETIMES PERMANENTLY.  LET ME START OFF BY SAYING THAT IT IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY WHEN YOU’VE HAD A WORK INJURY.  AS I’VE DISCUSSED IN OTHER BLOGS, SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY AND SOMETIMES YOU DON’T – BUT IT’S ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO KNOW YOUR RIGHTS RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING.  WHEN WE ACCEPT REPRESENTATION IN A CLAIM, IT’S BECAUSE WE THINK WE CAN MAKE THE CASE BETTER THAN IT WOULD BE IF THE INJURED WORKER PROCEEDED WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.  

BUT SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN ATTORNEY, EVERYTHING WILL GO SMOOTH IN THEIR CLAIM.  UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.  REMEMBER THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH AN INSURANCE COMPANY WHOSE MAIN GOAL IS TO MAKE A PROFIT – WHICH THEY DO BY LIMITING THE AMOUNTS PAID TO YOU IN COMPENSATION AND MEDICAL BENEFITS.  WE ARE ALSO DEALING WITH A GOVERNMENT AGENCY, THE INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION OF ARIZONA, THAT DOES NOT ALWAYS ACT WITH THE URGENCY WE WISH THEY WOULD.  AS ATTORNEYS, WE ARE OFTEN LIMITED IN WHAT WE CAN DO TO FORCE THE INSURANCE CARRIER TO PAY THE BENEFITS THE WORKER IS ENTITLED TO WHEN WE WANT THEM.  WE DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO MAKE SURE OUR CLIENTS SUFFER THE LEAST AMOUNT OF PAIN AND ANXIETY POSSIBLE.  BUT SOMETIMES, THINGS ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL.  REMEMBER THAT YOUR LAWYER IS ON YOUR SIDE AND HAS AN INTEREST IN KEEPING YOU HAPPY AND GETTING YOUR BENEFITS PAID.