Yikes!!! I bet you are glad you didn't hire this Chicago workers comp lawyer

A reader writes:

My husband and I hired a Chicago attorney after my husband was injured in a trucking accident.  When ready to settle our case, the attorney asked my husband to sign papers. Before we signed we asked if our Chiropractor had been paid.  Mr. attorney assured us that HE had the bills and the Dr. would be paid as soon as my husband signed the papers.  Well, the Chiropractor never
did get paid.  The attorney lied to me several times, told me that insurance company MUST pay regardless as to what is on the form, because it states that ALL medical bills have been paid.  Back in February of 2009 the attorney said he was filing with the workers compensation board and our case should be heard by March 15th.  We never heard from this attorney again.  When I call, his secretary tells me that he is not in the office, and he will call me back.  I have waited for a return call and called several times since March.  What can we do?  This attorney had my Dr. submit his bills directly to him instead of to the insurance company.  Do we have any recourse?  I also wonder if my husbands settlement should have been so small.  Please advise.  WE need to know what to do next.

Another example of lazy lawyering that gives good attorneys a bad name.  A few thoughts:

1. On all Illinois workers' compensation settlement contracts there is a place to check whether or not all bills have been paid.  If yes is checked then the insurance company is supposed to have paid all reasonable and related medical bills.

2. Sometimes chiropractic bills are not seen as reasonable.  There are a lot of good chiros out there, but some over treat their patients.  This issue should have been taken care of before the attorney hurried off to have the contracts approved.  This is why we always tell our clients that a case is better handled right than fast.

3. Even if the box was checked that the bills were paid and the bills were reasonable and related to the injury, you still have to look at the back of the contract where the settlement terms are written.  If we were going to settle a case like this, we would have clearly written that the insurance company will pay $x to the chiropractor or that the insurance company is responsible for bills to the chiropractor.  Quick tip:  If you are injured on the job, don't ever sign a settlement contract without personally calling every medical provider you have seen and getting a bill from them.  Most lawyers do this for their clients, but this is your life so you need to take control.

4. There is no excuse for the attorney not calling back for months.  When lawyers in Illinois are unethical your only real recourse is to file a complaint with the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.

We don't know who the lawyer is that caused this problem, but we are guessing that their in-action is because either they screwed up or they have to go back in to court to solve the problem.  Since they won't get any additional money they are essentially screwing their client even though they have really already been paid, they just didn't complete the job.