How Often Should I Hear from My Workers’ Comp Attorney?

It all depends on where you are in your specific case and what kind of updates or communication is necessary. 

In the Beginning: More Frequent Contact

When you first reach out and begin your workers’ comp claim process, your attorney will contact you frequently. They will typically reach out every few days to once a week with any updates to your case. Communication is often more frequent at this phase because this is when you will work closely with your attorney and do the following: 

• Gather evidence for your claim and organize any important documentation to support your case. 
• Explain your claim timeline and go over all of the rules and requirements needed to ensure your claim is at minimal risk for denial. 
• Confirming your benefits and ensuring you know the proper amount you should receive. 

Each case is different in its way. Some are more straightforward than others, and communication may be a bit less frequent; others are more complex and will require constant contact. However, generally speaking, in the beginning, you can reasonably expect regular contact with your attorney. 

Mid-Case: Things Slow Down

After the initial phase and all your paperwork is submitted, you should start receiving benefits. If your claim gets denied, then you can expect the same amount of contact you had in the initial phase or even more to appeal the denial promptly. Your attorney will help you break down why your claim was denied and what to do when filing an appeal. 

If you received benefits without any complications, contact should generally slow down. Your attorney will likely reach out every few weeks to see how things are going and to ensure there are no lapses in your benefits. Additionally, they will also check in to review your medical status and help you prep if any hearings are required. 

You can always reach out to your attorney, even if things slow down, if you have any questions. 

Key Moments When Your Lawyer Should Always Contact You

It is important to note the key moments when your lawyer should contact you: 

• Before and after hearings
• When medical evaluations are scheduled 
• When your benefits may be at risk 
• When your case is approaching resolution, or if it needs to go to trial 
• Whenever there is a settlement offer 
• When the insurance company starts a motion 

This list is brief and only gives a few examples of when your lawyer should reach out to you. Essentially, whenever there is a key shift in your claim or any important updates, your lawyer should not lag in providing you with this information. 

Red Flags in Attorney Communication to Watch Out For

All attorneys have a reasonable expectation to communicate with their clients regularly. While small lapses are understandable, the operative word being “small,” any delay in communication beyond one or two days max is a red flag to watch out for. In addition to large communication delays, other red flags include: 

• Feeling uninformed about important court dates or settlement updates 
• Feeling confused about the status of your case, and constantly having to reach out first for any updates 
• Lack of response to your calls and emails 
• Missing deadlines or other important dates because you were not made aware of them 

The attorney you hire should be invested in your case and help you succeed. If it feels like any of these red flags are impeding your workers’ comp claim, it may be in your best interest to look for new legal representation. 

What Should You Do if You’re Not Hearing from Your Lawyer?

If you are not hearing from your lawyer, it is important to remain professional. Before considering other options for legal representation, it is good to follow these steps: 

1. Politely reach out again and ask for a status update via email and phone. Remember, a delay can be unintentional, so if this is the first delay you are experiencing, it is best to give the benefit of the doubt. 
2. Ask for a concrete communication schedule moving forward. This eliminates the cat-and-mouse game for updates and gives your attorney a specific time to provide updates. 
3. If problems continue to persist even after setting this schedule, it is best to contact your attorney one more time with a stern yet respectful demand for regular updates and prompt correspondence. 
4. If all else fails, consider looking for new representation to help guide your case properly. 

These steps are just a general frame of reference. How you should proceed depends on how far in you are with your case and how often your lawyer has been showing red flags regarding communication. Nevertheless, it is best to remain courteous and give a chance before switching lawyers. 

You Can Count on Pond Lehocky to Keep You Informed at Every Step

A lot of lawyers tend to have a “set it and forget it” mentality. They will take a case, file the paperwork, and wash their hands clean of their client’s issues. This often leads to unnecessary friction, delays, and makes the entire workers’ comp claim process far more frustrating and confusing than it already is. 

If you need help with your workers’ comp claim from competent attorneys who keep you informed every step of the way, get in touch with us today. At Pond Lehocky, our experienced and dedicated workers’ comp lawyers pride themselves on helping workplace injury victims seek the compensation they rightfully deserve. For a risk-free consultation at no cost to you, please contact us today.