If you hire a lawyer to prosecute your worker compensation case in court, be very certain that they're qualified for the job. Check into their accreditation, education, and track record. In addition, you should contact the state bar association to make sure they're a member -- and thus a legitimate lawyer.

It's probable that your employer is going to play it straight with you in a worker compensation case, but one way you can make sure is to brush up on your knowledge of your state's worker compensation laws. You can think of that knowledge as insurance: even if you never use it, it's good to have.

Be prepared to face a tremendous amount of red tape and annoyance for any worker compensation case you may try to file. The laws are often so ambiguous and biased toward the employer that you may have no choice but to consult with a lawyer before you're done.