While criminal law and workers’ compensation law may seem like very different areas of practice, both criminal lawyers and workers comp lawyers play important roles in advocating for their clients during difficult legal situations. Criminal lawyers work to protect the rights of individuals facing criminal charges, while workers comp lawyers assist people who have been injured on the job in seeking benefits. Understanding the types of cases each area specializes in can help clients determine when to contact a criminal lawyer versus a workers comp lawyer for legal guidance.
Criminal Law Cases
Criminal lawyers, also sometimes called defense attorneys or public defenders, handle a wide variety of criminal cases at both the state and federal levels. Some of the most common types of criminal cases a lawyer may become involved in include:
- DUI/DWI: Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a criminal offense that requires legal representation. Criminal lawyers help defend individuals charged with DUIs during the judicial process.
- Drug Offenses: Possession of illegal drugs, trafficking, manufacturing, and more can all be prosecuted criminally. Lawyers are needed to argue for leniency or lesser charges in drug cases.
- Violent Crimes: Crimes like assault, battery, murder, manslaughter, and other acts of violence against persons require a lawyer to build an effective defense strategy.
- Property Crimes: Burglary, arson, robbery, theft, and related crimes dealing with illegally taking or destroying property are handled in criminal court, necessitating an attorney.
- Sex Crimes: Offenses like rape, sexual assault, child abuse, and similar sex-based crimes are serious felonies where an experienced criminal defense attorney provides crucial guidance.
- Domestic Violence: Acts of domestic violence between partners, family members, or others in a domestic relationship require strong legal representation throughout a potential criminal case.
- Federal Crimes: Lawyers well-versed in federal law are needed to handle issues like tax evasion, organized crime, cybercrime, terrorism, and other federal offenses prosecuted nationally.
The job of a criminal lawyer is to ensure the constitutional and legal rights of their clients are protected at every stage of the criminal justice process from investigation to trial and sentencing if convicted.
Workers Compensation Cases
However, workers compensation lawyer, assist people who have suffered job-related injuries, illnesses, or accidents that may entitle them to benefits under state workers’ compensation laws. Some examples of cases workers comp attorneys commonly handle include:
- Slip/Trip and Fall Injuries: Lawyers file claims for employees who slipped, tripped, or fell due to hazardous conditions while on the job site and were injured.
- Repetitive Stress Injuries: Overuse injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome or tendonitis from repetitive motions require an attorney to obtain benefits and medical coverage for treatment.
- Industrial Accidents: Serious injuries occurring due to dangerous equipment, machinery, or other worksite incidents demand legal expertise to navigate complex comp claims.
- Transportation Accidents: Auto collisions or other transportation-related accidents occurring during work activities receive legal help with benefits application and appeals processes if needed.
- Toxic Exposure: Illnesses arising from long-term exposure to hazardous work chemicals, fumes, dust, and other toxins may warrant legal assistance in establishing causation links.
- Assault/Violence: Workers assaulted or attacked while on duty have legal rights workers comp attorneys can advocate to ensure are properly addressed.
- Psychological Injuries: Mental health conditions directly resulting from traumatic work events are legally eligible for coverage that lawyers obtain treatment approvals for.
The core goal of workers comp attorneys is to get qualified injured employees the medical care, lost wages reimbursement, and other assistance they deserve under applicable labor laws.