Hiring a competent Kansas City Missouri workers’ compensation lawyer may help you receive the maximum possible benefits.
The monetary benefits are often bigger than the fee paid to the lawyer since the lawyer has an idea on how to work through the workers’ compensation system. For temporary and minor injuries, it may not be necessary to retain the services of a lawyer. However, if the injuries are considerable, the recovery period is long, the employee cannot work during that period, or the injuries result in permanent disability, it is often necessary to hire a workers’ compensation lawyer.
Contingency Fee
A contingency fee arrangement is a percentage of the workers’ compensation benefits that are paid to the lawyer. Although the state will determine the contingency percentage, it is normally between 10 and 35 percent. The lawyer does not normally receive the contingency payment unless the case is won. If the lawyer does not win the case, no compensation will be given to the lawyer.
Lawyer’s Fees Varies Among the States
The representation fee that lawyers receive will be determined by the state and is normally regulated by state laws. The lawyer will represent an employee on a contingency basis in many states. In some states, the workers’ compensation judge will set the lawyer’s fee. The lawyer’s fee will be taken from the benefits received by the employee when the case is won. The employee will have to pay the cost of legal representation if the lawyer does not win the case. The cost includes copying expenses, filing fees, and other similar expenses. The type and amount to be paid should be agreed upon by the employee and lawyer at the start of the case.
In other states, the lawyer receives the payment from the employer’s insurance company from the benefits received by the employee. The workers’ compensation division of the state should approve the lawyer’s fees, which is determined based on the expenses and time of the lawyer. After the lawyer’s fee is approved, the insurance company will be ordered to take the fee from the benefits received by the employee up to 25 percent of the amount to be recovered.
Free Consultations
The initial discussion is normally offered for free by many Kansas City Missouri workers’ compensation lawyers. It normally takes around thirty minutes to talk about the case and whether a lawyer is needed. Some states require initial consultations to be free of charge. The mode of payment should be explained by the lawyer during the initial consultation. Although the initial consultation is free, the lawyer will have to be paid to represent the employee.
If you need legal help to receive your workers’ compensation benefits, call The Law Office of James M. Hoffmann at (816) 399-3706.
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