August 23, 2018 Guest Post – Meuser Law Office, P.A. “Can I Afford an Attorney?”
Do not let the cost of an attorney prohibit you from obtaining counsel. At Meuser Law Office, P.A. there is absolutely no fee to retain an attorney nor will you be responsible for hourly fees. At Meuser Law Office, depending on the type of case, we charge fees on a contingency fee or a flat rate.
We also front the costs of litigation, including the costs of medical records, court reports, and doctor depositions and reports.
Workers’ Compensation
The Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Act provides that all work comp attorneys in the State of Minnesota are paid the same: 20% of what is recovered on behalf of the client up to a maximum of $26,000 or $13,000 per injury, depending on the date of the injury, subject to excess attorney fees on the basis of the complexity of the case and the time incurred.
If there is no dispute, then we are not paid. At Meuser Law Office, P.A. we recommend that you hire an attorney before a dispute arises; it’s our belief that it’s not if but when a dispute will arise with the insurance company. Typically, we can manage future disputes or put you in a better position if we are involved from the beginning of the case.
For example, if you are receiving ongoing temporary total disability benefits or TTD, then attorney fees are not withheld on an ongoing basis. If, however, the insurance company issues a Notice of an Intent to Discontinue Benefits or a “NOID” on the basis of Independent Medical Examination or “IME” or another legal basis and we establish your right to continue to receive benefits, then 20% of your ongoing wage loss benefits would be withheld.
We also charge the insurer for our services on an hourly basis for our services in certain circumstances. If the insurer/employer is denying medical bills and we obtain payment from the insurer/employer for your medical care and treatment then we charge them, not you, Roraff attorney fees. Similarly, if we obtain rehabilitation services, such as a consultation with a Qualified Rehabilitation Consultant (QRC) then we charge the insurer/employer Heaton attorney fees on an hourly basis for our time incurred.
Personal Injury
At Meuser Law Office, P.A. we charge contingency fees for representation in conjunction with civil personal injury claims. We generally charge 1/3 of whatever we recover for you, depending on the complexity of the case. This fee is outlined in our retainer agreement. We then front the costs of litigation, such as experts.
PERA Duty Disability, MSRS Duty Disability Benefits of Minn. Stat. §299A.465 Health Continuation Benefits
At Meuser Law Office, P.A., a flat rate is charged for our services in conjunction with obtaining these benefits. There may also be litigation costs associated with obtaining these benefits; however, as we typically represent clients for PERA and MSRS for their work comp claim as well, we are able to minimize these costs.
We represent clients through the approval process as well as the appeals process, which may include a formal hearing, board meeting, and/or the Minnesota Court of Appeals. Unfortunately, the more intensive the appeal, the more time, and the costlier it becomes. It’s much cheaper to hire us at the beginning of your application, to ensure everything is done correctly the first time.
We take great pride in representing police officers, firefighters, deputy sheriffs, and state troopers and as such our representation is important to us. We work with our clients to ensure they are able to afford representation.
Contact Meuser Law Office, P.A. at 1-877-746-5680 today, for a free, no-obligation case consultation. Our experienced attorneys will explain your rights under the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Act, PERA/MSRS, or civil law and keep you informed of the process as well as what to expect each step of the way.
