The relationship between attorney involvement, claim duration, and workers' compensation costs.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between attorney involvement, claim duration and workers' compensation claim costs.


METHODS
We identified and compared 738 claims with attorney involvement and 6191 claims without attorney involvement submitted by individuals injured between August 1, 2003 and July 31, 2004 whose claims were paid by the Louisiana Workers' Compensation Corporation (LWCC). At the time of assessment (March 20, 2006), 97.7% of claims not involving attorneys and 57.5% of claims involving attorneys were closed (resolved).


RESULTS
After controlling for lost time (temporary/total days paid), attorney involvement was associated with consistently higher medical, indemnity and claims handling costs, as well as increasing claim duration (accident date to closing date).


CONCLUSIONS
Attorney involvement in workers' compensation claims is associated with increasing claims duration and costs.
Bernacki
Edward J
EJ
Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287-1629, USA. bernacki@jhmi.edu
Tao
Xuguang Grant
XG
D006801:Humans; D033241:Lawyers; D008145:Louisiana; D024382:Professional Role; D013997:Time Factors; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration