Although there is no law which says you need to hire a lawyer, in practical terms and regardless of how you feel about attorneys, it is difficult to handle a workers' compensation case on your own. With trained adjustors working for the insurance companies who have lawyers at their everyday disposal, hiring a qualified attorney is essential. Unless your case is extremely simple, a good lawyer is important to protect your rights. Trying to handle your own case may save you a penny but cost you a pound in the long run.

Hiring a lawyer is critical in any of the following situations:

• The employer denies you were injured on the job
• The carrier has denied benefits
• You cannot get medical treatment
• You are not getting paid
• The adjustor promises benefits or care which never arrives
• An attorney for the employer or insurance company contacts    you and wants to take a deposition
• You want to sue a third person- You begin to represent yourself  and you encounter someone on the other side who    is particularly difficult and is trying to take advantage of your lack of legal expertise

These are but a few of the situations which arise and should make you consider hiring an attorney. Remember, the more problems you encounter, the more you probably need representation.

Workerscompensation.com makes finding and choosing a lawyer easy. To find a qualified attorney, go to your city and search and review the attorneys listed. Many have links to their firms where you can peruse the information or you can call or write to the attorneys and request they provide you with written or oral information about their credentials. Call or write and make an appointment. We only list attorneys who practice in the area of workers' compensation and who have experience in this field. Remember, the hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask the lawyer to send you free written information or view their Website about their qualifications and experience.

Choosing a lawyer is a personal matter. A lawyer generally has 19 years of formal education and must have passed a difficult exam to be able to practice law. This training combined with his legal experience constitutes his education. His education and experience are primary considerations along with the proven ability in the field of workers' compensation. Board certification shows that the practitioner has a high degree of experience and ability. Because there is a continuing relationship between the lawyer and the injured worker as a client, the personal nature of the relationship must also be considered.

Most workers' compensation attorneys work on a contingency basis. That is, if they do not get you money, they do not charge you. In addition, in many situations, the employer/carrier may have to pay any fee or costs.