We Win, or You Don't Pay. It's That Simple.

Our contingency fee structure exists for one reason: to make sure a workplace injury doesn't become a financial catastrophe compounded by legal bills you can't afford. When Cole Fisher takes your workers' compensation case, you pay zero dollars upfront. There's no retainer, no deposit, and no hourly rate ticking away while you worry about the cost. Under California's workers' compensation system, attorneys' fees are strictly regulated by the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board and are paid as a percentage of your award or settlement, never out of your pocket before results are achieved.

This isn't a marketing gimmick. It's the way we've operated since 1985, and it's rooted in a simple belief: injured workers deserve representation regardless of their financial situation. In Fresno, where many of our clients work in physically demanding industries like agriculture, warehousing, food processing, and construction, a single injury can eliminate your income overnight. You shouldn't have to choose between paying for groceries and paying for a lawyer. Our fee structure ensures you never face that choice.

What this means in practice is that our motivation is identical to yours. We earn our fee only when you receive compensation, which means every hour we invest in your case is aimed squarely at maximizing your recovery. If your case doesn't result in an award or settlement, you walk away owing us nothing. That's our promise, and it's backed by California law. You take zero financial risk by calling us.

Many injured workers in Fresno never pick up the phone because they assume that even talking to a lawyer will cost money. At Cole Fisher, your initial consultation is completely free, and it comes with absolutely no obligation to hire us. This is your opportunity to sit down with an experienced workers' compensation attorney, describe what happened, and get honest answers about whether you have a case and what it could be worth.

During this consultation, we review the circumstances of your injury, assess the strength of your claim, and explain how the California workers' compensation process works in plain, straightforward language. We'll tell you what benefits you may be entitled to, including medical treatment coverage, temporary disability payments for lost wages, and permanent disability benefits if your injury has lasting effects. If you have questions about timelines, what to expect from your employer's insurance company, or whether a denied claim can be challenged, this is the time to ask.

There's no pressure, no hard sell, and no commitment required. If we believe we can help you, we'll explain exactly how. If your situation calls for a different type of legal assistance, we'll tell you that too. Our goal is to make sure you understand your rights so you can make an informed decision, not to push you into something you're not comfortable with. For workers across the Central Valley who are unsure about their next step, this free consultation is the simplest, most risk-free way to find out where you stand.

Experience matters in workers' compensation law, and few firms in central California can match the depth of knowledge that Cole Fisher brings to every case. Founded in 1985 by Curtis A. Cole, one of the first certified specialists in California workers' compensation law, our firm was built from day one to serve the specific needs of injured workers and their families. That singular focus has defined us for more than three decades.

Today, the firm is led by principal attorneys including Joseph O'Keefe, a certified workers' compensation law specialist, and Rachel G. Mahoney, who represents the third generation of legal expertise within our practice. This continuity of knowledge means that our team has seen virtually every type of workplace injury case that arises in the Fresno region, from repetitive stress injuries in agricultural and food processing operations to catastrophic accidents on construction sites and in warehouses. We understand the local industries, the local employers, and the tactics that insurance carriers use in this market.

Our reputation as the gold standard in applicants' practice in the Central Valley wasn't built overnight. It was earned case by case, client by client, over 35-plus years of delivering results for the people who need it most. When you work with Cole Fisher, you're not just getting a lawyer, you're getting a team with deep roots in this community and a proven track record of fighting for injured workers just like you. That experience translates directly into stronger case strategies, better negotiation outcomes, and the confidence that your claim is in the hands of attorneys who have done this thousands of times before.

After a workplace injury, the last thing you should be doing is battling paperwork, chasing down insurance adjusters, or deciphering legal deadlines. When you hire Cole Fisher, we take the entire burden of the workers' compensation process off your shoulders. From filing the initial claim to negotiating your final settlement, our team manages every step, so your only job is to heal.

California's workers' compensation system involves strict timelines, complex medical-legal procedures, and a bureaucratic process that can feel deliberately confusing. Missing a single deadline or filing an incomplete form can delay your benefits or even jeopardize your claim. Our attorneys have navigated this system thousands of times for Fresno-area workers, and we know exactly what needs to happen, when it needs to happen, and how to keep your case moving forward without interruption.

We coordinate directly with your employer's insurance carrier, your treating physicians, and the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board on your behalf. If your claim is disputed or denied, we handle the appeals process. If the insurance company tries to limit your medical treatment or reduce your benefits, we push back aggressively. You'll always know the status of your case because we believe in clear, regular communication, but you'll never have to do the heavy lifting yourself. For injured workers in Fresno who are already stressed about lost income and medical bills, this full-service representation removes one of the biggest sources of anxiety during an incredibly difficult time.

Not every workplace injury heals completely. When an injury results in lasting physical limitations, a back that never fully recovers, a shoulder that limits your range of motion, hearing loss from years of industrial noise exposure, you may be entitled to permanent disability benefits under California workers' compensation law. Calculating permanent disability ratings, understanding how they affect your settlement value, and negotiating fair compensation requires attorneys who specialize in this area. That's exactly what Cole Fisher does.

Our team evaluates the long-term impact of your injury on your ability to work and earn a living. We work with medical professionals to document the full extent of your permanent impairment and ensure that your disability rating accurately reflects your condition. Insurance companies routinely try to minimize permanent disability awards, offering lowball settlements that don't account for the years of reduced earning capacity ahead of you. We don't accept those offers without a fight.

For workers whose injuries are severe enough to prevent them from returning to any form of employment, Social Security Disability Insurance benefits may also be available. The SSDI application and appeals process is notoriously difficult, with high initial denial rates. Cole Fisher handles SSDI appeals for clients throughout the Fresno area, bringing the same tenacity and specialized knowledge that defines our workers' comp practice. If your claim has been denied, we can evaluate whether an appeal is warranted and guide you through the hearing process. Having attorneys who understand how workers' compensation and SSDI intersect gives you a significant strategic advantage in pursuing every dollar of compensation you're entitled to.

The contingency fee model isn't just a payment arrangement, it's an alignment of incentives. When your attorney only gets paid if you get paid, every strategic decision, every negotiation, and every hour of preparation is aimed at one goal: maximizing your recovery. At Cole Fisher, we don't benefit from dragging cases out or settling for less than you deserve. We benefit when you benefit, period.

This alignment matters more than most people realize. In a traditional hourly billing arrangement, you pay regardless of outcome, which means the attorney has little financial incentive to push harder for a better result. Under our contingency fee structure, the opposite is true. A stronger settlement for you means a better outcome for us. That's why we invest the time to build the strongest possible case, gather comprehensive medical evidence, retain expert opinions when necessary, and refuse to accept settlement offers that undervalue your claim.

For injured workers across Fresno and the Central Valley, this model provides something that goes beyond financial accessibility, it provides accountability. You can trust that our recommendations are driven by what's best for your case, not by what's best for our billing department. Every client who walks through our doors at 2445 Capitol Street receives the same level of committed, outcome-focused representation, because our entire practice is built on the principle that we succeed only when you do. That's the promise behind "we win or you don't pay," and it's a promise we've kept for over 35 years.