Green Bay Workers’ Compensation Attorney

The Green Bay workers’ compensation lawyers at Sigman, Janssen, Sewall, Pitz & Burkham offer a free consultation to employees that have been injured on the job. We have a proven track record of recovering compensation for work injury victims, including a $220,000 worker’s compensation settlement for a State of Wisconsin employee who suffered a back injury on the job. This result was obtained by attorney Mark Sewall, who attended the University of Wisconsin Law School and worked on Wisconsin assembly lines before becoming an attorney.

There are no upfront costs if we take on your case.

Free Consultation. Call (877) 888-5201.

Is My Employer Required to Have Workers’ Compensation Coverage?

Many employers in Wisconsin are required to have workers’ compensation coverage to provide benefits if employees get hurt on the job. Generally, any employer with at least three employees needs to have coverage.

However, there are various exceptions to this, depending on the type of work you do. For example, some workers are covered by federal law, like postal workers, railroad workers, seamen and members of the armed forces.

Many farm workers are not covered by Wisconsin’s workers’ compensation system, but employers are required to have coverage if they have a minimum of six employees for 20 or more days in the year.

Feel free to contact our firm for any questions about workers’ compensation eligibility. We have detailed knowledge of the law and can apply that to your situation to determine your possible options. Your consultation is free of charge and there is no obligation to take legal action.

Call our team today. (877) 888-5201.

Does My Injury Qualify for Benefits?

In Wisconsin, a work injury is defined as any physical or mental harm due to workplace accidents or diseases that develop over time. The injury had to have occurred in the course of your work.

If you are unsure if your injury qualifies for benefits, we recommend that you contact a worker’s compensation lawyer at our law firm today. We have many years of experience handling worker’s compensation cases in Wisconsin, and can review the specific details of your claim, to help determine if you have a case. There are no front fees for us to review your claim.

Workplace injuries that may qualify for benefits could include:

  • Burn injuries
  • Head injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Torn ligaments
  • Hearing loss
  • Broken bones
  • Electrocution

These and other workplace injuries occur in various situations, such as:

  • Slips, trips and falls
  • Fires/explosions
  • Hit by falling debris or objects
  • Machinery malfunction
  • Motor vehicle accidents

Diseases That May Qualify for Benefits

You may also contract an occupational disease from a repetitive activity like heavy lifting or being exposed to hazardous substances over a long period of time. Occupational diseases may include conditions like:

  • Lead poisoning
  • Pneumonia
  • Asthma
  • Respiratory disease
  • Back problems like herniated discs
  • Neurological disorders

You can discuss your injury with a Green Bay workers’ compensation lawyer, who can determine if you may be eligible for benefits.

Your consultation is free and confidential. Call (877) 888-5201.

What if I Was Injured Outside of Where I Normally Work?

In some instances, employees are injured outside of the factory, construction site or other location where they normally work. If you were performing a work-related task when you were hurt, you may still be covered by the workers’ compensation system.

For example, you could be covered if you were involved in a traffic accident while driving a company car on official business. Other situations that may be covered include:

  • Injuries in the company parking lot
  • Falls that happen on company property
  • Accidents during lunch breaks on company grounds
  • Injuries while traveling for work; injuries during your commute typically are not covered

However, eligibility for benefits depends on the specifics of your situation. That is why we encourage injured workers to call us and discuss what they may be eligible to receive.

Benefits That May be Available

Our Green Bay workers’ compensation lawyers may be able to pursue various benefits on your behalf, depending on the severity of your injury and how it affects you.

This includes:

  • Medical expenses – Reasonable and necessary medical expenses may be covered, such as the cost of surgery, hospital visits, medical testing and appointments with doctors.
  • Temporary total disability – If you are unable to do any work, you may be eligible for compensation equal to two-thirds of your average wages before you were injured. If you fully recover and return to work, benefits will be stopped. If you cannot go back to work, you may be eligible for permanent disability benefits.
  • Temporary partial disability – Your injury may still allow you to do some work while you try to recover. For example, you may be able to work fewer hours or do fewer tasks. If you are in this situation, you could be eligible for compensation to cover some of the wages you lose because you are being paid less.
  • Permanent partial disability – Once your injury stops improving, you could be eligible for these benefits if you are still partially disabled. The workers’ compensation insurance company may request an independent review of your injuries to decide if you will receive benefits.
  • Permanent total disability – These benefits are reserved for those with permanent disabilities that prevent them from working. Those who are eligible will be paid benefits each week for the rest of their lives. There is a limit set by law on how much you can receive.
  • Vocational rehabilitation – Your injury may prevent you from returning to your old line of work, but you may be able to work in another field. You could be eligible to receive vocational rehabilitation benefits for things like career planning, retraining and job placement.
  • Death benefits – If a loved one died in a workplace accident, the surviving dependents could be eligible for monthly benefits. For example, surviving spouses could be eligible for a maximum of four times the deceased’s annual earnings.

Our attorneys can discuss potential benefits with you. If you have a valid claim and decide to pursue it, we are prepared to pursue all the benefits you are eligible for. We have a track record of recovering benefits for injured workers.

You can schedule a free legal consultation by filling out a free online form.

How Do I Apply for Workers’ Compensation Benefits?

If you are injured on the job or your work duties have resulted in an illness, you may be able to apply for workers’ compensation benefits. There are certain steps you can take to help protect your eligibility for benefits:

  • Immediately report the accident/illness to your supervisor – Although you have 30 days to report an accident, waiting could hurt your claim. Your employer may become suspicious about whether you suffered an injury at work. This could lead to your claim being denied. When you notify your employer, make sure to provide the time, date and injury suffered.
  • Seek medical attention – Whether or not your injuries seem serious at the time of the accident, see a doctor immediately to get a thorough examination and documented proof of the extent of your injuries.
  • Maintain important documentation – Save all documentation related to the accident, such as documentation and photos of your injuries and records of any medication or treatment prescribed by doctors.
  • Contact a qualified workers’ compensation lawyer – It is a good idea to contact a lawyer who is not only well-versed in Wisconsin workers’ compensation law but has a history of recovering fair compensation for injured workers.

Once you report an injury, your employer has a duty to notify his or her insurance carrier about the accident that caused you to get hurt. The insurance carrier is then required to report the incident to the Wisconsin Workers’ Compensation Division.

Sigman Janssen’s experienced Green Bay workers’ compensation lawyers are prepared to discuss your injury and the benefits you may be eligible to receive.

Fill out a Free Case Evaluation form.

How Long Does It Take to Start Getting Benefits?

If you are eligible for benefits, the first workers’ compensation payment should be made within 14 days of your last day working day. However, you will not receive compensation for the first three days you did not work unless your disability lasts more than seven calendar days.

Those three days include any days you are not scheduled for work. However, Sundays will not be counted in the three days unless you are scheduled to work that day. It is also important to note Sunday is counted when determining if a disability extends beyond seven days.

When you contact one of our Green Bay workers’ compensation attorneys, we can discuss when you would receive benefits if you are eligible. There is no risk in contacting us. There are no upfront fees unless you receive compensation.

Have some questions? Call (877) 888-5201.

What if My Claim Gets Denied?

When a claim gets denied on the first submission, it may be because the person who filed made a mistake or missed a deadline. Claims could also be rejected if the injured worker:

  • Neglected to report the accident immediately or within the 30 days
  • Chose not to seek medical treatment, or did not go to an approved doctor
  • Did not file the claim in a timely manner

If your claim is denied, you still have options, but you have only a small window of time to appeal this decision. Our experienced Green Bay legal team can represent you in an appeal, handling the many details and keeping you informed.

Call us right now to schedule your free consultation. If your claim has already been denied, there is no time to waste. We can answer any questions you have about the worker’s compensation process and discuss your legal options.

Contact a Qualified Green Bay Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today

Recovering workers’ compensation benefits can be a complex and time-consuming process. That is why you may like to consider obtaining trusted legal representation to help. Our experienced attorneys are prepared to fight to protect your rights, gather evidence about your injury – and the accident that caused it – and handle all communication on your behalf so you can focus on recovering from your injuries.

Contact our office today for a free consultation. It costs nothing to discuss your claim with us, and there are also no upfront attorney fees to worry about. You only pay us for our legal services if we are able to obtain compensation from a settlement or a court victory.

Call (877) 888-5201 now for your free consultation.