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Leg Injury

PERSONAL INJURY

An immigration attorney with a trusted relationship with their clients can play a pivotal role in ensuring that their clients receive appropriate legal representation following an injury from a workplace accident or negligence. Here’s how they can help, considering the risks of working with inexperienced attorneys. Here's how:

1. Holistic Understanding of the Client's Situation

  • Familiarity with the Client's Background: An immigration attorney already knows the client's immigration status, work authorization, and potential vulnerabilities within the legal system. This intimate understanding enables the attorney to navigate the injury case without jeopardizing the client’s immigration status.

  • Trust and Rapport: Injured clients often face stress, fear, and uncertainty. Trust in their attorney allows them to share details openly, ensuring the attorney has all the necessary information to guide them effectively.

2. Coordinating with Personal Injury Attorneys

  • Immigration attorneys may not specialize in personal injury law, but they can refer the client to trusted personal injury attorneys while ensuring the legal strategy accounts for immigration consequences. For instance:

    • Settlements and Immigration Consequences: The attorney can help determine how a financial settlement might impact eligibility for public benefits or immigration petitions.

    • Workplace Injury and Workers’ Compensation: If the injury is workplace-related, the attorney can guide the client on how to pursue workers’ compensation without risking retaliation or scrutiny over work authorization.

3. Protecting Against Exploitation

  • Many injured immigrants, particularly undocumented workers, may fear reporting injuries or pursuing legal action due to immigration concerns. An attorney well-versed in the client's case can reassure them of their rights, such as protections under labor and tort laws, regardless of immigration status.

4. Navigating Systemic Challenges

  • Language Barriers: The attorney’s familiarity with the client’s language and cultural background can help bridge gaps when communicating with medical professionals, insurance adjusters, or courts.

  • Legal Complexities: Some injuries might require navigating both personal injury and immigration matters, such as ensuring a U visa is considered if the injury resulted from criminal activity.

5. Immigration Status Implications

  • U and T Visas: If the injury is tied to a crime (e.g., assault, trafficking), the immigration attorney can assist in applying for relief through visas designed to protect victims of crime.

  • Visa Extensions or Adjustments: If the injury impacts the client’s ability to meet immigration obligations (e.g., maintaining employment for a work visa), the attorney can petition for extensions or adjustments based on medical circumstances.

  • Family-Based Implications: If the client is incapacitated, the attorney can help manage ongoing immigration petitions for the client and their family.

6. Compassionate Advocacy

  • An immigration attorney who has worked closely with the client understands their long-term

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© 2024 Law Office of Hernando Bernal Jr., P.A.

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