VB
Valerie Bohannon
Jan 15, 2026
In 2016, I woke up for my shift as a vet tech, and my life changed forever. A terrified dog and a busy animal hospital left me needing two major surgeries, with more expected in my future. What I didn’t know then was how skewed the workers’ compensation system in Florida is—heavily in favor of insurance companies.
Delayed treatment. Denied treatment. Delayed medications. Endless prior authorizations. A work-comp-approved doctor can say you need a procedure, yet an insurance company team can decide you don’t—without ever meeting you. It isn’t right.
I hired a lawyer early on, but he was abrupt and callous, so I fired him and handled the case myself for years. I don’t regret that, because it eventually led me to Billy Weiland.
From our first conversation, I knew Billy was different. He showed genuine empathy and understood how a pelvic injury at 32 can permanently alter your life. Mine was supposed to include children. Instead, I was left with spinal instability, SI joint dysfunction, and a hip surgery delayed so long that my labrum could no longer be fully repaired. For the first time, it felt like someone in the legal system actually cared.
Florida does not compensate injured workers for pain and suffering. Billy was honest but compassionate in explaining that while I deserved more, the law simply doesn’t allow it. What mattered was that he listened and truly understood my situation before agreeing to represent me after I’d spent eight years navigating the case alone.
That decision came after a new adjuster emailed me claiming I had accepted a $2,000 settlement—something I absolutely did not do. Billy immediately clarified that without signed paperwork, no settlement had occurred. He explained things I had never been told before, and after more than an hour on the phone, I asked him to send the paperwork. I was ready.
Billy was honest every step of the way. I told him what I wanted; he told me what was realistic. We prepared for trial. His experts treated me with kindness and respect—unlike many workers’ comp specialists who spent only minutes with me. Billy also explained that certain treatment options are often withheld simply because a patient is workers’ comp. I didn’t want to believe it, but it was true. For years, I received steroid injections without ever being told they could further damage my joint or that regenerative options even existed.
All I’ve ever wanted is my mobility back. To bend down without fear. To play with my friends’ kids. To ride a horse again.
We pursued treatments and succeeded in getting many of them. Billy’s paralegal, Soroya, was incredible—always on top of timelines, authorizations, and follow-ups so no more time was wasted. When it became clear that the treatments I most wanted wouldn’t be approved through workers’ comp, Billy helped me navigate a settlement so I could use private insurance and pursue better care.
Billy and Soroya were there every step of the way. Late-night emails were met with reassurance and action. Billy sat with me through my first deposition and mediation. He never seemed rushed or distracted. He knew me, my case, and my medical history—and that is priceless.
If you are considering whether to hire an attorney, hire one. You will not get fair treatment representing yourself. Insurance companies care about paying as little as possible, not about your recovery. Billy and Soroya changed everything. My case had been underpaid for years, and I didn’t even realize it. The first attorney I hired told me my case wasn’t worth his time and estimated I’d receive about 5% of what Billy ultimately secured.
Was it everything I deserved? No. Was it more than anyone else could have gotten? Yes.
Without Billy and Soroya, I would be broke, broken, and still managing pain instead of beginning to treat its cause. If you’re in workers’ comp hell in Florida and want someone who listens, cares, and fights tirelessly, call Billy.
My life changed forever in 2016. In January of 2026, Billy changed it again. I will never regret hiring him.