Do I have the right to obtain my own Maryland work injury lawyer for my workers’ compensation case?

Under Maryland workers’ compensation law the employee has the right to hire a Maryland work injury lawyer of his own choice.

          What if I cannot afford to pay a Maryland work injury lawyer to represent me in a workers’ compensation claim?

A Maryland work injury lawyer  may not charge an up -front attorney fee in order to represent someone for a workers’ compensation claim. Any Maryland workers comp lawyer fees for a workers’ compensation claim are regulated by the Workers’ Compensation Commission and are based upon a fee schedule set by the Commission. The Maryland work injury lawyer fees are based upon a percent of any award that is made in the workers’ compensation claim and if there is no award there can be no attorney fee. Maryland work injury lawyer fees typically start at 20% of the permanent injury award and if there is no permanent injury award there is no fee. If there is a hearing in order to get the claimant paid for lost time from work the workers’ compensation commission may also award an additional 10% fee.

           Should I get an attorney for my workers’ compensation claim?

The employer and the insurance company will have an attorney to represent them in these particular matters. The Workers’ Compensation Commission has Commissioners who are bound by the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Law. Workers’ Compensation Law is very complicated and is usually a specialized area that only certain Maryland work injury lawyer practice in. A person who is injured on the job and goes to a workers’ compensation hearing without a Maryland work injury lawyer will be at an extreme disadvantage since everyone else at the hearing will be an attorney, including the Workers’ Compensation Commissioner, as well as the employer’s attorney.

If you do attend a workers’ compensation hearing without a Maryland work injury lawyer, you will be called up to the front of the courtroom and told of your right to ask for a postponement to obtain an attorney and most commissioners will attempt to influence you to obtain a Maryland  lawyer .