Hurt on the job in Reno? Start here.
A Nevada work injury runs on a strict clock: report it to your employer within seven days and file your claim within 90 days, or you risk losing benefits. When an insurer denies or lowballs your claim, the appeal goes through state hearing and appeals officers — a process where an experienced Reno workers' comp lawyer earns their keep.
These are the Reno workers' compensation firms we see most often across Super Lawyers, Avvo, the Nevada Justice Association, and client reviews. We verified seven that met our bar, all focused on representing injured workers — not insurers.
Nevada caps and regulates attorney fees in workers' comp cases, and consultations are free, so cost is rarely a barrier to getting advice. If your claim has been accepted and benefits are flowing correctly, you may not need a lawyer at all; but if anything is denied, delayed, or disputed, talk to two or three of these firms.
How we picked these 7: We reviewed peer rankings (Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell), client review patterns on Google and Avvo, bar-association standing, and published case results. Firms had to appear consistently across at least two independent sources to make the list. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
Practice focus: Workplace injury, denied claims, permanent disability
Herb Santos Jr. is certified in workers' compensation by the Nevada Justice Association and was named its Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2018, with 28-plus years representing injured Nevada workers.
Practice focus: Workers' comp, personal injury, insurance
Reno firm practicing workers' comp and injury law since 1977, with thousands of cases handled through Nevada's multi-level appeals system, up to the state Supreme Court.
Practice focus: Work injuries, denied and appealed claims
Attorney Jay Short founded the Center in 1994 and has more than 30 years focused solely on Nevada workers' compensation, including back injuries, burns, and occupational conditions.
Practice focus: Workers' comp, occupational injury
Cory Santos is board-certified in workers' compensation by the State Bar of Nevada and represents injured workers statewide in claims involving the brain, knees, shoulders, and wrists.
Practice focus: Workers' comp, injured-worker benefits
Reno injury firm with a dedicated workers' comp practice and 85-plus years of combined experience fighting denied and undervalued claims.
Practice focus: Workers' comp, Social Security disability
Nevada firm that combines workers' comp with Social Security disability, useful when a work injury also affects your long-term ability to earn a living.
Practice focus: Workers' comp, personal injury
Nevada injury and workers' comp firm serving the injured since 1970; its Reno office handles Northern Nevada claims and appeals.
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Pick a firm that fights denials and appeals. The value of a workers' comp lawyer shows up when the insurer denies treatment, disputes your impairment rating, or cuts off benefits. Look for firms that regularly appear before Nevada's hearing and appeals officers.
Look for board certification and specialization. Nevada certifies some attorneys specifically in workers' comp (Cory Santos and Herb Santos Jr. among them). That credential signals depth in a technical, deadline-driven area of law.
Consider whether disability overlaps. If a work injury may keep you out of your job long-term, a firm that also handles Social Security disability (like Shook & Stone) can coordinate both claims so they don't work against each other.
You do not pay a workers' comp lawyer up front. Nevada regulates and caps attorney fees in comp cases — fees generally come as a percentage of the additional benefits the lawyer recovers for you, subject to approval. If the lawyer doesn't improve your outcome, there is typically no fee.
Consultations are free across the firms on this list. Because the system caps fees, getting advice early rarely costs you anything. For a broader breakdown, see our workers' comp lawyer cost guide.
Report fast, file faster. Tell your employer about a work injury within seven days using a C-1 form, and file your formal claim (C-4, completed at the treating doctor) within 90 days. Missing these windows can cost you the claim.
It is a no-fault system. You generally don't have to prove your employer did anything wrong — comp covers most on-the-job injuries regardless of fault. In exchange, you usually can't sue your employer directly for the injury.
Disputes go to hearing and appeals officers. If your claim is denied or benefits are cut, you appeal first to a hearing officer and then to an appeals officer within the Nevada Department of Administration. These are the proceedings where representation matters most.
Benefits cover specific things. Nevada comp pays for medical treatment, a portion of lost wages, and permanent partial or total disability based on impairment ratings. A lawyer makes sure the rating and wage calculations are done correctly — small errors cost real money.
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a dismissal, a dollar figure, or an approval, walk away.
The disappearing senior partner. You meet a name partner at intake, then never speak to them again while a junior or a paralegal runs the file. Ask in writing who your day-to-day attorney will be.
Pressure to sign on the spot. Reputable firms hand you the agreement in writing and give you time to read it. High-pressure intake is usually a sign of a volume shop, not a careful practice.
No verifiable track record. The firm should point to peer rankings, bar standing, or named results. “We've helped thousands” is marketing; specifics are evidence.
Vague fee terms. “Don't worry about cost” is a red flag. Every legitimate Reno workers' compensation lawyer will give you a written agreement spelling out the fee, what it covers, and what triggers extra charges.
Most Reno firms on this list offer a free initial consultation. Use it. Bring a list of questions and write down the answers. Compare across at least two firms before you sign anything.
Notify your employer within seven days using a C-1 form, and file your formal claim (the C-4, completed at your treating doctor) within 90 days of the injury. Missing these deadlines can jeopardize your benefits.
Not always. If your claim is accepted and benefits are paid correctly, you may not. But if treatment or benefits are denied, delayed, or disputed, or if your impairment rating seems low, a lawyer can often recover more than the cost of representation.
Nevada caps and regulates comp attorney fees. You pay nothing up front; the fee is typically a percentage of the additional benefits the lawyer obtains, subject to approval. Consultations are free.
Generally no. Workers' comp is a no-fault system, and in exchange for guaranteed benefits you usually cannot sue your employer directly. There are narrow exceptions, and a third party (not your employer) who caused the injury may sometimes be sued separately.
You can appeal, first to a hearing officer, then to an appeals officer within the Nevada Department of Administration. These deadlines are short, so contact a workers' comp lawyer quickly after a denial.
Nevada workers' comp covers medical treatment for the injury, a portion of lost wages while you can't work, and compensation for permanent impairment based on a rating. A lawyer helps ensure those calculations are accurate.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one how many cases like yours they have handled in the last three years — the answer tells you most of what you need to know. — The LawFirmSquare team