ERISA law is all about the employee benefits that employees get from any policy taken out by their employer said a lecturer from Springer Ayeni ERISA attorney. In case the employees get sick and cannot work or die, their beneficiaries will have the right to claim compensation. The policy holder can decide to either pay the benefits or deny the claim.
In case of a denial, the beneficiaries are allowed by law to file a lawsuit. This can only happen if they have filed an appeal with the policy carrier. When the lawsuit is filed, they will have to get a very good lawyer to handle the case. Here are some qualities to look for when hiring an ERISA attorney.
Experience
ERISA cases are often complicated and they may take a lot of investigation before the final decision is made. Both parties will try to ensure that the case does not go to federal court since the process will be even more tedious. An experienced lawyer is able to come up with the right strategy to ensure that the client gets the best deal. They will use their knowledge of such cases to ensure that the insurance companies pay the benefits.
Reputation
Look for an attorney who has a reputation of winning the cases he or she handles. If there are any other people in the workplace that filed such a lawsuit then talk to them to find out if the lawyer they used is any good. Do not go by word of their mouth only. Find out how majority of the cases handled by the attorney you wish to hire ended. You want to be sure that you are getting the best deal there is.
Availability
Since ERISA cases are long and tedious, it is not uncommon for the attorney to delegate some of the work to a colleague. If this is the case they should let you know. If they have too many cases and you feel that your case will not be handled thoroughly, feel free to look for a different attorney. If you have any legal questions regarding your case the attorney should provide the right answers.
Trustworthy
Your attorney should never agree on settlement terms with the policy carriers without your consent. They should make you trust them fully and show that they are on your side. If your attorney appears to be making decisions that are not in your interest it is best to get another one.