The job of a lawyer is to help their clients. That’s not a radical statement, is it? Seems pretty basic. Most attorneys agree with that and practice that. Some more than others. I’ve seen lawyers settle cases to make sure they get paid, rather than take the case to trial where the client could get more money (or less or nothing).
Those decisions are usually made with the client’s input, even if the attorney tries to push them in one direction. But one Chicago work injury law firm is actively doing things that help themselves and really hurt some of their clients.
Generally speaking, when you are hurt on the job in Illinois, you get to choose your own doctor. You can pick whoever you want. They don’t have to be “in network” and there are no out of pocket expenses.
If you don’t know a doctor, your attorney can suggest one. But they shouldn’t force one on you. If your case goes to trial, and the opposing attorney asks why you picked that doctor, the credibility of your case could be hurt if the answer is, “My lawyer made me.”
Yet this is happening every day with a handful of law firms. One Chicago workers comp firm appears to be worse than all the others and it’s really hurting their clients.
Multiple current and former clients of this firm have told me that their lawyer forced them to see a certain doctor. A couple said they were told that the firm wouldn’t represent them if they didn’t see the doctor they chose for them.
What happens is that some doctors refer their patients to law firms. In return, the doctor expects the law firm to steer their clients to the medical practice. It’s a huge conflict of interest as they are scratching each other’s back. Neither is concerned about what is best for you.
Lawyers feel pressure to do this because if they don’t send clients to the doctor, they will stop getting referrals, many of which can be lucrative.
What happened to a lot of the people who called me is once the insurance company cut off paying the doctor, the doctor said the patient is fine and discharged them. This happened even in cases where there was a surgery recommendation or the client couldn’t walk more than a few feet due to the pain.
Basically the doctor didn’t want to keep treating them since they weren’t getting paid, so they screwed over the patient. And it’s all being done with the help of the attorney.
To me, if a lawyer insists that you have to see a certain doctor, it’s a HUGE red flag. I would not recommend you hire anyone who does this. It’s a clear and obvious sign that they are only looking out for themselves.
Note that this isn’t the same as your lawyer offering an opinion on certain doctors or suggesting one if you don’t have one. It’s when they make you feel forced to hire the one they suggest that it could be a problem.
If you have any questions about this or want a referral to an experienced, honest and caring workers compensation attorney, contact us any time at 312-346-5320.
