Oak Reile delivered a pallet in 2020, slipped and fell, breaking two vertebrae and paralyzing him from the armpits down. After months of hospitalization and rehab, he slid into depression. He told his wife, Kirsten, “You should’ve just let me die,” she says.

He began therapy, but the state workers’ compensation agency denied his claim, arguing depression wasn’t a physiological effect of his injury. The Reiles, frustrated by other denials too, decided to fight.

They discovered another hurdle: only 2 lawyers in North Dakota will represent injured workers. Both are in their late supervisors and plan to retire soon. The pool of lawyers pursuing workers’ compensation cases is shrinking in some states. State laws have dialed back payouts enough that young lawyers are turning to more lucrative specialties, rather than replacing veteran attorneys who are retiring.

This shortage threatens access to justice for injured workers, who now face fewer legal advocates and reduced benefits. States must reconsider policy changes and encourage new attorneys to specialize in workers’ compensation.