Did you get hurt at work? If you are a full or part-time employee and you are injured on the job, you are most likely eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation insurance pays for medical treatment of work-related injuries and replaces a portion of lost income while you are unable to work. Even though Wisconsin law requires most businesses to carry workers’ compensation insurance to protect injured employees, disputes still arise about eligibility and benefits.
If you have been injured on the job, a Green Bay workplace accident lawyer can help you de-mand the full workers’ compensation benefits available by law. Call the workers’ compensa-tion attorneys at Schwaba Law Firm in Green Bay, WI, for a free case evaluation. Our law firm has a proven track record of representing injured workers. Let us get to work pursuing the benefits you need.
Why Workplace Injury Legal Support Matters
After you have been injured on the job, the last thing you should have to worry about is how you are going to pay your medical bills and other expenses. Your focus should be on healing from your injuries. But if your employer or their insurance administrator denies your claim for workers’ compensation benefits, you should discuss your legal options with a workplace accident lawyer. You may need legal representation to assert your rights. A work-related ac-cident lawyer at Schwaba Law Firm is ready to assist you.
Filing a workers’ compensation claim can be complicated, especially if your employer or their insurance company disputes your claim. Without workers’ comp benefits, you may be facing medical bills and struggling to cover your household expenses while unable to work.
An experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can handle your initial claim. If your claim is denied, your lawyer can file an appeal and represent you in hearings before the Wisconsin Worker’s Compensation Division. A lawyer who handles workers’ compensation cases regu-larly understands the kinds of medical information that claims reviewers are seeking to ap-prove a work injury claim.
Understanding Workers’ Compensation in Wisconsin
You may be eligible for several types of workers’ compensation benefits, including:
- Medical benefits: Workers’ compensation will cover all reasonable and necessary medi-cal expenses required to treat your work injury.
- Temporary wage replacement benefits: You could be entitled to temporary partial disability benefits. A doctor must document eligibility for these benefits. If you are off work while you are healing, you may be entitled to temporary total disability benefits. These bene-fits are based on 2/3 of your pre-injury weekly wages.
- Permanent disability benefits: Permanent partial disability or permanent total disabil-ity benefits may be granted if you don’t fully recover from the injury and have work limita-tions. Permanent disability benefits are paid for the potential or actual loss of earning capacity.
- Vocational rehabilitation and retraining: If your injury prevents you from returning to your usual job, you may be entitled to receive benefits for vocational rehabilitation.
Common Types of Workplace Injuries
Our employment injury lawyers have represented injured workers dealing with many kinds of work-related injuries. Among the injuries commonly cited in workplace injury cases are
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Head injuriesNeck and back injuries
- Herniated discs
- Shoulder injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Crushing injuries
- Amputations
- Burn injuries
- Electrocution
- Repetitive trauma injuries
- Carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndromes
- Occupational diseases
The incidents that lead to these serious injuries include falls, machinery accidents, vehicle collisions, repetitive strain injuries, and workplace exposure to harmful substances and tox-ins.
Workers’ Compensation vs. Third-Party Injury Claims
If your injury was caused by someone other than your employer or a co-worker, you may be entitled to file a third-party personal injury claim in addition to a workers’ comp claim. For example, if you were injured by faulty machinery at work or if another driver hit you while you were making deliveries for your job, you could have a claim against the parts manufac-turer or the at-fault driver who hit you.
The benefit of filing a third-party claim is that personal injury cases provide compensation you can’t get through workers’ compensation. You or your employment injury lawyer could seek money for your:
- Any medical expenses not covered by workers’ compensation
- The full amount of your lost income
- Future lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
How a Green Bay Workplace Accident Lawyer Helps You
When you hire a workplace accident attorney, the attorney handles the task of pursuing the benefits you need while you focus on recovering from your injuries. A lawyer can:
- Investigate the cause of your accident
- Determine whether you are eligible to seek workers’ compensation benefits
- Get witness statements
- Gather evidence
- Verify your average weekly wage
- File your claim with the Wisconsin Worker’s Compensation Division
- Handle all communications with the insurance company
- Keep track of all deadlines associated with your case
- Determine whether you have a right to file a third-party claim and, if so, send a demand letter to the at-fault party’s insurance company
- Represent you before the Worker’s Compensation Division
- Negotiate for a full and fair settlement of your claim
- Represent you in court in a third-party case, if necessary
Speak With a Green Bay Workplace Accident Lawyer Today
After an injury at work, you may be too injured to handle your own workers’ comp claim. Even if your injuries aren’t catastrophic, you should have a work-related accident lawyer han-dle your claim and take legal action on your behalf.
When you work with Schwaba Law Firm, you’ll get experienced guidance about how to pro-ceed with your claim and support throughout your case. Our founding partner is a native of Wisconsin and understands the importance of providing personalized legal services to each individual whom we represent.
At Schwaba Law Firm, we believe that injured workers should have the representation of an experienced work injury attorney. We’ve recovered millions of dollars in settlements and awards, including a $650,000 settlement for a workplace injury. When you hire us, we’ll put our experience to work for you.
Call our office or contact us online today for a free case review.
