Idaho Law Blog
By Fred Lewis and Mckaid Sheppard
Everyone likes to be knowledgeable about a subject. Ignorance is not bliss, sometimes self-education can make you over confident. I have had a few potential clients ask me questions, glean information about workers compensation law, and then never come back. They have become the expert in their eyes. There is a problem with this. You cannot learn the complex process of Idaho worker’s compensation law in 10 minutes.
I have initial calls or meetings all the time with people inquiring about their situation and asking for advice. This is not out of the norm; most attorneys, along with I, offer free case reviews. The future client often asks about the process of Idaho worker’s compensation claims. They try to get as many details as they can, and then, we never hear from them again. In their minds they have just become the expert after that 10 minute call of meeting. After a brief meeting of me telling them the process and explaining to them the workings of a workers’ compensation claim: they go out on their own to take on the insurance companies by themselves.
There is a problem with that. In their minds they just gained knowledge and experience in 10 minutes that took the attorney years to accumulate. What they don’t know is how many hours go into a claim behind the scenes. We have working relationships with many of the adjusters, attorneys and representatives of the insurance companies. We have worked with them for decades, which is advantageous in the settlement process. We have trained assistances working on your case as well and their time isn’t paid by your proceeds. That brings me to the money issue. The biggest reasons why future clients don’t accept representation is because they want to save money. They don’t want to have to pay an attorney, but let me explain to you how most workers’ compensation claims go. After you accept representation you will sign an attorney/client fee agreement. With worker’s compensation, the attorney isn’t paid unless you are. The attorney will get some percentage of the proceeds, which varies by state. In most settlements the attorney’s fees are built in to the settlement, so in all reality you aren’t paying very much for the attorney’s services. Especially for the experience and expertise you are getting.
So to all of those ten minute experts out there, I say good luck. I hope that you will receive fair compensation and the knowledge you gain in your brief meeting will be enough to get you through your complex claim. If you reconsider give me a call. We will go get the benefits you legally deserve.