u guys are way off..........after ur return to work and release by ur doc to work u will be notified 90 days later with a settlement offer.....u may take it or contact a lawyer....but beware the lawyer gets 20% of the offer.....if u get the lawyer after the 1st offer he gets 20% of the money above the 1st offer.....exmpl ups offers u 20,000$ then the lawyer gets it up to 40,000$ he gets 20% of the 20,000$ which is 4,000$.....its best to get the lawyer after the 1st offer.....many things go into the formula for the award.....time off,kind of injury,% of loss of motion to the body part,if it is ur dominant limb etc......lawyers say u need them but u dont.......think of it as car shopping only u have the upper hand.....they start low balling its ur job to get the best offer!!!!!!!!!remember if u think u need a lawyer get one,i did the 1st time and he got 12,000$ out of me ......the 2nd time it was all mine 26,000$ lawyer 00$...u have to know when to hold em and when to fold em.......no punn intended..........good luck