What Your Disability Lawyer Will Not Tell You About Winning Your Claim

It’s difficult enough living with a disability, and sometimes discrimination or complex benefit-limiting legislation can make it even harder. It’s therefore important to choose the right attorney who can help you with these issues.

What they do

Disability lawyers help disabled citizens get the disability coverage they need to meet their monthly living expenses and continue to live independently. They can also help with issues under the Disability Act such as discrimination, Wage and Hours Law and Occupational Safety and Health.

How to find the right lawyer

Disability Lawyers can be found online, in legal aid clinics, and the referral service operated by the bar association of each state. Nolo offers a unique directory of disability lawyers. Whichever lawyer you choose, it’s important to meet them first and see if you feel comfortable with them.

Fees

Most long-term disability lawyers will act on a contingency basis, so their fees are not paid unless they recover sums for you, for example past-due benefits. They will typically take 20-40% of sums awarded, and you need to be clear exactly how the agreement will work. For example, at the end of the case you are likely to have to pay any costs that the lawyer has incurred, for medical reports, travelling, filing fees, etc, even if you lose the case. You may also be eligible for legal aid in certain situations or pro-bono help, so that is worth looking into.