Work-Related Injuries: Answering Your Legal Questions
What is worker’s compensation insurance?
Almost all employers are required by Wisconsin law to protect their workers by providing worker’s compensation insurance. Worker’s compensation insurance not only covers workers injured at work in accidents but also covers diseases or conditions caused by work or exposure to the work environment. This insurance is available regardless of whether the employer or worker was at fault.
Almost all employers are required by Wisconsin law to protect their workers by providing worker’s compensation insurance. Worker’s compensation insurance not only covers workers injured at work in accidents but also covers diseases or conditions caused by work or exposure to the work environment. This insurance is available regardless of whether the employer or worker was at fault.
What should I do if I have been injured at work or suffer a condition caused by my work?
Immediately report the injury or condition to your immediate supervisor. As soon as possible seek medical attention for your injury or condition.
Your employer, not you, is responsible to notify the worker’s compensation insurance company.
Immediately report the injury or condition to your immediate supervisor. As soon as possible seek medical attention for your injury or condition.
Your employer, not you, is responsible to notify the worker’s compensation insurance company.
What compensation should I receive?
The following is a list of some, but not all, of the benefits available.
The following is a list of some, but not all, of the benefits available.
- Incidental Compensation: The cost of reasonable and necessary doctor bills, hospital expenses, prescription medications, crutches, artificial limbs, and travel expenses, among other expenses.
- Temporary Total Disability: Payment for two-thirds of your lost wages if: (1) You are off work for three or more days until you return to work; or (2) You cannot return to work because of a permanent disability, then until you reach maximum healing.
- Permanent Partial Disability: Compensation is for the loss of a body part for a permanent disability. This compensation is paid based on the percentage of your disability for a set period of weeks.
- Vocational Rehabilitation: If your permanent disability prevents you from returning to your old job you may be eligible for schooling to restore your pre-injury earning capacity. During school attendance you may be eligible to receive a weekly payment equal to your temporary total disability payments.
- Unreasonable Refusal to Rehire If your employer unreasonably refuses to rehire you after a worker’s compensation injury the employer may be liable for one year of lost wages.
What should I do if I have problems with my worker’s compensation claim?
Not all insurance companies do the right thing. The company may argue that your injury is not serious, or it did not happen at work, or make some other claim to justify denying compensation. Employers sometimes try to prevent injured workers from making a claim at all. When you have problems with your claim this is the time to consult an attorney who handles worker’s compensation cases.
Haferman Law Office offers initial no fee consultations on worker's compensation matters. We will explain the law and your rights and give you advice on your claim.
Not all insurance companies do the right thing. The company may argue that your injury is not serious, or it did not happen at work, or make some other claim to justify denying compensation. Employers sometimes try to prevent injured workers from making a claim at all. When you have problems with your claim this is the time to consult an attorney who handles worker’s compensation cases.
Haferman Law Office offers initial no fee consultations on worker's compensation matters. We will explain the law and your rights and give you advice on your claim.
What does Haferman Law Office charge and what do I do if I cannot afford an attorney?
If you retain us we do not collect legal fees and costs unless we are successful. The amount of legal fees are set by Wisconsin law at twenty percent of the compensation collected and the Worker’s Compensation Department has to approve the payment of fees and costs in all cases.
If you retain us we do not collect legal fees and costs unless we are successful. The amount of legal fees are set by Wisconsin law at twenty percent of the compensation collected and the Worker’s Compensation Department has to approve the payment of fees and costs in all cases.
