Workers’ Compensation: Questions to Organize Before a First Consultation

Write down how the injury happened

Identify the date, time, location, task being performed, people nearby, and when the injury was reported. If symptoms developed gradually, note when they first appeared and when they began affecting work.

Collect employer and treatment paperwork

Keep incident reports, work restrictions, medical notes, claim forms, benefit correspondence, pay information, and any letters about missed work or modified duty.

Track changes in your work status

Write down dates when you were taken off work, returned with restrictions, changed duties, or missed shifts because of the injury. Clear dates help an attorney understand the practical impact.

Ask about the process, not only the outcome

A useful consultation can explain how medical care, wage benefits, claim administration, and disputed issues are generally handled. Avoid assuming another worker’s experience predicts your own.

Questions to bring to counsel

• Which deadlines or notice rules could apply?
• What records should I preserve now?
• What facts are still missing before the matter can be evaluated?
• How are fees, costs, and communication handled?