Gerald Batchelder

We see clients as people, rather than cases. We strive to understand your needs and concerns, and how your injury and your case affect the rest of your life. Then we focus on finding individualized solutions to your needs, rather than treating your case as something that is on an assembly line.

People generally come in for an initial consultation with a lot of anxiety and uncertainty about their future and what they will be going through. I am generally able to lessen that anxiety, and give them a clear understanding of what lies ahead. They often come in feeling embarrassed about filing a worker’s compensation claim. I help them get beyond that feeling. It is essential that clients know that their attorney will always have their best interests at heart, and that they are retaining someone who will be an effective advocate for them.

Making a difference in the lives of people who need help has always been what I have sought to do, both as a lawyer and in the community. Being able to calm the fears of clients who are feeling especially vulnerable after a serious work injury, and offer them solutions and hope, is something that I take pride in being able to do. I take the time to listen to my clients and make sure I understand their situations. I do my best to explain the strange and complicated world of California workers’ compensation law in ways that they can understand.

I feel truly blessed to be able to do the kind of work I love and can get real satisfaction from doing. I feel an obligation to give back to the community, and have therefore given my time to serve as an officer and president of a parent teacher organization, coach youth soccer, and sit as a workers’ compensation judge pro tem. I also spend quite a bit of time answering questions from injured workers who are not my clients, and offering advice and mentoring to colleagues on professional websites.

I have always believed that lawyers should not take cases unless they honestly believe that they can make a positive difference in the outcome of the case for the client. There is no reason for someone to pay an attorney a fee if they would end up with the same result without having a lawyer. If you come see me for a free consultation, and I do not think I can make things better for you, I will always tell you so.