Personal Injury Lawyer

Employers are required to provide a safe and healthy work environment, but what happens when you are hurt on the job because your employer was negligent? Or what if your employer did everything in their power to be sure that your workplace was safe and you still got hurt anyway?

The answer for many people involves workers’ compensation.

What Is Workers’ Compensation?

Most employers pay for workers’ compensation, which is a state-mandated insurance program that provides benefits should an employee find themselves injured or ill because of job-related circumstances. Regardless of who is as fault for the work-related injury or illness, generally an employee can get workers’ compensation benefits.

What Do Workers’ Compensation Benefits Include?

This answer varies from state to state but typically if your injury or illness prevents you from being able to work for a certain minimum number of days, you will get temporary disability benefits. Your medical costs are also covered for as long as it is necessary. It is also possible that your employer will provide vocational rehabilitation to help you get back into the swing of things.

What Do I Do If I Am Injured On the Job?

The first step is to report your injury to your employer. This usually must happen fairly quickly (either the same day or within a few days). It is important to report the injury early so that there is no question as two how, when, or why it occurred.

Then, you can proceed with filing your claim with the workers’ compensation court of industrial court. This is just another way to make sure that your employer and their insurance company is fully aware that you have experienced an injury.

Workers’ compensation laws differ from state to state, as do the rights afforded to the injured employee and the legal procedures available to them.

Here are a few things that do apply to every workers’ compensation claim:

• You have the right to seek medical treatment for your illness or injury and the right to visit the doctor
• You have the right to return to your job should you be cleared by a physician
• You have the right to some type of disability compensation if you are not able to return to work, whether your absence is temporary or permanent
• You have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim for your illness or injury in either workers’ compensation or industrial court
• You have the right to refuse to use your own insurance to pay for your treatment (should you be encouraged to do so by your employer)
• You have the right to appeal any decision made by your employer, their insurance company, or workers’ compensation court
• You have the right to be represented by a lawyer

If you are looking to file or have already filed a workers’ compensation claim and are looking for legal advice, contact Milwaukee workers compensation lawyers today for a consultation. We know that each case is unique and our experienced attorneys are ready to help you understand your options.

Thank you to our friends and contributors at Hickey & Turim, SC for their insight into workers compensation and what to do if you’ve been injured at work.