Jonathan Teperson | Riverside Workers Compensation Lawyer

• Member | California State Bar Association

• Over 27 years of experience practicing law.

I was recently substituted into a case where the Applicant could not get the surgery her doctor recommended. The prior attorney had tried many different ways over several years to get it approved. Knowing how insurance companies look at giving approvals for recommended treatments, I was able to suggest a method to the doctor that had not been tried before and the surgery was approved and the client had it. I was recently substituted into two separate cases wherein the Applicant's payments from the insurance company had stopped. I was able to get the payments started again, by selecting the appropriate doctor in one case and, in the other, getting another treatment approved which changed the Applicant's medical status from when the neutral doctor declared the payments should stop. As a result of the change, the insurance company had to restart payments.

An Office that will answer their questions. An office with an attorney who knows the subject matter. An attorney who explains what is happening and why, what are the options and what would happen if your choose each option. A lot of attorneys make decisions in Workers' Compensation cases for their client. Like when and whether to have an AME or a QME. Some offices will agree to an AME without consulting with the client. We always consult on ever major decision. Different clients will choose different options for reasons that are individual to them. Each case needs to be handled with both the law and client in mind. There is no one way to run any case that fits all clients' needs and wants.

Local Knowledge is very important in these cases. There are only a handful of Judges in Riverside and San Bernardino, I know them all and they know me. They work with me to resolve issues without trial, which can be stressful for some Clients, as they know I wouldn't be bringing the matter to the court, unless I thought I would succeed.

Only basic information all injured workers would have, such as the identity and location of the employer, what was the workers job title and duties, what was the date of injury, what happened after the injury, what have any doctors told them if the employer sent them to a doctor.

I personally handle each file, I personally direct my staff on the steps to take, I personally handle meetings and court appearances. In Workers Compensation, non-lawyers can appear for lawyers at depositions and court. I never do this. I know my clients. I often see lawyers shouting their clients names at the Workers Compensation Board as the court hearing is the literally the first time the lawyer and client are talking and meeting despite the case being old.

Helping injured workers get benefits, either money or medical treatment. When someone is hurt at work, it is traumatic. It is usually a low point in someone's life. They are used to working and having an income. This is pulled out from them. Add to that the fact that the insurance company is not paying any money and not giving any treatment to get the injured person to get them better, and this leads to a frustrated person with no income. Helping them get money treatment in the low time, and seeing them better and back to work by the end of the case is rewarding.