Do I really need to hire a lawyer for my workers’ compensation claim?

Here’s what the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission has to say about that:

You are not required to have a lawyer and can represent yourself. The employer/carrier must be represented by a lawyer. It is your decision whether to hire an attorney. However, you will be at a disadvantage without legal representation.

Why anyone would want to enter a legal proceeding at a disadvantage does not make a alot of sense. You are much better off hiring someone who knows what he or she is doing. Protect your rights so your not losing your case just because you were unaware of a deadline or an intricacy in the law. Considering that it doesn’t cost to hire an experienced workers compensation lawyer, and considering that a Commissioner will ultimately decide whether and how much your lawyer gets paid, it make good sense to hire a lawyer.