Were you Wrongfully Fired at Work? Call Us Today!
Getting fired can cause you to feel a rollercoaster of emotions. You might feel relief from escaping an environment filled with tension. Or perhaps you loved your job and felt the employer wrongfully terminated your employment.
When deciding whether or not to pursue a wrongful termination lawsuit, many factors will determine if and when you pursue litigation and how much compensation you receive. Since not all firings are wrongful termination, speak to an employment attorney in Los Angeles from Mann & Elias to determine if you have a winning case.
What is Wrongful Termination?
In many cases, employees believe they have been victims of wrongful termination when they have not. To be considered wrongful termination, your employer will have fired you due to:
- Age
- Gender
- Race
- Religion
- Other characteristics protected under civil rights legislation
On the other hand, if you were fired due to favoritism, bullying, or general personality conflicts, these reasons might not meet the criteria of wrongful termination. To learn more about whether or not your firing was wrongful termination, consult with Los Angeles unlawful termination lawyers at Mann & Elias.
Wrongful Termination Compensation
Once you have spoken to lawyers, your next area of focus will be on how much compensation you may get from your lawsuit. While of course this always varies from one case to another, most workers who have been victims of wrongful termination in the U.S. have successfully sued their employer and received on average between $5,000-$40,000. If you feel pursuing litigation is a viable option, work with an attorney.
Using a Lawyer for Your Case
If you believe your termination from your job was illegal, it is always recommended you hire an attorney to help you pursue your case. Though you would not need an attorney when filing an EEOC complaint, having one on your side will be beneficial in many ways, including increasing the amount of compensation you receive.
Surveys have shown that 64% of clients received compensation through litigation when using a workplace lawyer. However, for those fired workers who chose to pursue action on their own, only 30% of them ultimately received financial compensation. Even if you feel you have what it takes to pursue action against your employer, work with a dedicated law firm to increase your chances of gaining the compensation you deserve.
Average Settlements
Since most wrongful termination cases are settled out-of-court rather than inside a courtroom, having experienced lawyers can mean the difference between receiving a minimal settlement or one that will fully compensate you for your damages.
On average, workers who did receive settlements with the help of an attorney were awarded $48,000, while those who received compensation without an attorney’s help got just under $20,000. It is possible to build a much stronger case in your favor.
Since your hired legal professional has handled such cases previously, they will know how to use evidence, interview witnesses, and develop a strategy that will pressure employers and insurance companies to do the right thing and offer a fair settlement.
How Much Are The Attorney Fees?
Once you hire a lawyer to represent you, how much they ultimately charge for handling your case may vary. While some may work strictly on a contingency fee basis, meaning they get no money unless you win your case, others may work on an hourly fee basis, which can quickly add up to thousands of dollars.
In most cases, your attorney will likely combine these two options. According to numerous surveys, workers who hired attorneys who worked on a combination-fee basis received almost $16,000 more after paying their attorney than workers who did not refer to one.
Employer Size
When filing a wrongful termination lawsuit, the amount of compensation you ultimately receive may also be contingent upon the size of your employer. As you may guess, lawsuits against large companies tend to result in higher settlements than those filed against smaller companies.
As an example, if your employer had 100 or more employees and you were successful with your lawsuit, surveys show you would receive on average about $43,400 in a settlement. However, if you filed a lawsuit against an employer with less than 100 employees, that same survey showed the average settlement amount was cut in half.
Weighing the Pros and Cons of Your Case
Ultimately, it will be up to you to weigh the pros and cons of pursuing a wrongful termination case against your employer. When meeting with legal counsel, examine:
- The reason for your termination
- Whether or not sufficient evidence exists to prove wrongful termination
- If you lost enough wages or suffered other damages, that makes it financially sound to pursue a lawsuit
Since any employer who has a wrongful termination lawsuit filed against them is likely to deny the accusations, be prepared for what might be a long and complex legal fight. However, despite the obstacles that may arise, these lawsuits are often very winnable, especially for workers who have large amounts of evidence in their favor. If you are considering filing such a lawsuit, schedule a consultation today with the best law firm in Los Angeles.