Trial-tested workers’ compensation representation for injured workers in Cudahy and throughout Wisconsin.
If you were injured on the job in Cudahy, WI, our Cudahy, WI workers’ compensation lawyer can manage your claim, protect your rights if benefits are disputed, and pursue the full recovery you are entitled to under Wisconsin law. Hickey & Turim, S.C. has represented injured workers and their families since 1989. Contact us to schedule a free case review.
Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Cudahy, WI
Wisconsin’s workers’ compensation system operates as a no-fault insurance program, meaning that an injured employee is not required to establish employer negligence in order to receive benefits. Coverage is mandatory for most Wisconsin employers, and the benefits available include medical expense coverage, wage replacement, and compensation for permanent disability. What the system does not guarantee is that claims will be accepted, processed correctly, or paid at the appropriate rate.
When a claim is disputed, the matter proceeds to formal adjudication before the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development’s Workers’ Compensation Division, which administers Wis. Stat. Chapter 102. Insurance carriers contest claims on a variety of grounds, including questions of causation, the characterization of a condition as pre-existing, and disputes over the necessity of medical treatment. The procedural and evidentiary demands of that process are substantial, and the outcome directly affects the benefits an injured worker receives.
Types of Workers’ Compensation Cases We Handle in Cudahy
Hickey & Turim, S.C. handles a broad range of workers’ compensation matters on behalf of injured clients in Cudahy and across Wisconsin. The following represents the principal categories of cases we address.
- Denied and disputed claims. Carriers routinely dispute claims by challenging whether the injury arose out of employment, characterizing a condition as pre-existing, or contesting the adequacy of the employee’s notice. A denied workers’ compensation claim can be challenged through formal proceedings before the Workers’ Compensation Division.
- Permanent disability claims. Injuries that produce lasting impairment entitle the injured worker to permanent partial or permanent total disability benefits under Wisconsin law. The extent of permanent disability is rated through a medical assessment process that insurance carriers frequently contest.
- Traumatic workplace injuries. Falls, machinery incidents, vehicle accidents occurring in the course of employment, and overexertion injuries are among the most frequently reported workers’ compensation claims.
- Death benefits. When a work-related injury or illness proves fatal, Wisconsin law provides workers’ compensation death benefits to qualifying dependents of the deceased employee.
- Occupational disease claims. Certain compensable conditions develop over time. Repetitive motion disorders, occupational hearing loss, and conditions resulting from prolonged exposure to toxic substances or harmful environments may qualify as occupational diseases under Wisconsin law.
- Third-party liability. In some workplace injury situations, a party other than the employer bears legal responsibility for the harm. When that is the case, a third-party personal injury claim may be available in addition to the workers’ compensation claim.
Why Choose Hickey & Turim, S.C. as My Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Cudahy, WI?
A Practice Built on Representing Injured Workers
Hickey & Turim, S.C. has represented injured workers exclusively on the claimant side since the firm’s founding in 1989. Every case the firm takes is on behalf of an injured worker or their family. Our firm’s understanding of how the workers’ compensation system operates reflects that singular perspective.
David Turim co-founded the firm and has concentrated his practice on workers’ compensation litigation throughout his career. He has been licensed to practice in Wisconsin since 1985, earned his law degree from Marquette University Law School, and has appeared at formal workers’ compensation hearings on behalf of thousands of injured clients across the state. Approximately 90 percent of his practice involves contested litigation, a concentration that produces the kind of hearing-room preparation injured workers need when a claim goes to dispute.
Results and Recognition
The attorneys of Hickey & Turim, S.C. have helped injured workers recover millions of dollars in benefits, settlements, and related recoveries over the course of the firm’s history. Workers’ compensation representation is provided on a contingency fee basis, with no legal fees charged unless a recovery is obtained.
Joshua M. Turim has concentrated his practice on workers’ compensation and personal injury matters since joining the firm in 2010. He earned his J.D. from Marquette University Law School in 2012 and maintains active membership in the Wisconsin Association for Justice, the Wisconsin Association for Workers’ Compensation Attorneys, and the American Bar Association. He has been selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star annually from 2015 through 2025 and holds a 10.0 rating on Avvo along with the Avvo Clients’ Choice Award for five consecutive years from 2020 through 2024.
Understanding Workers’ Compensation Cases
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Workers’ Compensation Cases
Wisconsin’s workers’ compensation framework provides several categories of benefits, each governed by specific eligibility criteria and calculation methods established by statute:
- Wage replacement through temporary total or temporary partial disability benefits, calculated based on the injured worker’s average weekly wage prior to the injury
- Medical expense coverage for all treatment that is reasonable, necessary, and causally related to the work injury, with no out-of-pocket cost to the injured worker for covered care
- Permanent partial disability benefits for injuries resulting in lasting functional impairment, assessed according to schedules established under Wisconsin law and frequently subject to dispute between the treating provider and the insurer’s examining physician
- Permanent total disability benefits in the most severe cases, where the nature of the injury precludes the worker from returning to any form of gainful employment
- Vocational rehabilitation services, including retraining and job placement assistance, for workers whose injuries prevent a return to their prior occupation
Because workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, negligence on the part of the employer is not an element of the claim. What the injured worker must demonstrate is that the injury arose out of and in the course of their employment, a standard that, while not requiring fault, is nonetheless subject to contest by insurance carriers in a wide range of circumstances.
What Are Important Aspects of a Workers’ Compensation Case?
The strength and value of a workers’ compensation claim turns on a number of legal and factual considerations. The following are among the most consequential:
- Wisconsin law imposes reporting obligations on injured workers, and failure to provide timely notice of a work injury to the employer can have adverse consequences for the claim. Knowing what steps to take immediately following a workplace injury is essential to protecting your rights from the outset.
- In Wisconsin, injured workers generally have the right to choose their treating provider. That provider’s opinions regarding diagnosis, causation, and work restrictions will carry substantial weight, particularly when they conflict with the conclusions of a carrier-selected independent examiner.
- An injured worker’s rights under the workers’ compensation system include protections against employer retaliation for filing a claim, the right to legal representation at every stage of the proceedings, and the right to appeal a decision with which they disagree.
What Is the Workers’ Compensation Case Timeline?
Workers’ compensation claims in Wisconsin move through the following sequential stages, with the duration of each stage depending on the nature of the claim and whether it is contested:
- Injury reporting and claim submission. The injured worker provides notice of the injury to the employer, who is then required to report the claim to their workers’ compensation insurance carrier. The carrier conducts an initial review and issues an acceptance or denial.
- Medical treatment and documentation. The injured worker undergoes treatment with their chosen provider, who documents the diagnosis, causation, and functional limitations resulting from the injury.
- Benefit payment or formal dispute. If the claim is accepted, the insurer begins paying applicable benefits. If it is disputed, the injured worker may file an application for hearing with the Wisconsin Workers’ Compensation Division to initiate formal proceedings.
- Mediation or informal resolution conference. Prior to a formal hearing, many disputed claims are resolved through mediated negotiation or informal settlement conference.
- Formal hearing before an administrative law judge. Cases that do not settle proceed to an evidentiary hearing at which both parties present testimony and documentary evidence. The administrative law judge issues a written decision following the hearing.
- Appeal to the Labor and Industry Review Commission or circuit court. Either party may appeal an adverse hearing decision to the Labor and Industry Review Commission and, if necessary, to the Wisconsin circuit courts.
What Should You Bring to Your Workers’ Compensation Consultation?
Bringing the following materials to your initial consultation will allow for the most thorough evaluation of your claim:
- Pay stubs, W-2 forms, or other documentation of your earnings history with the employer
- Copies of any correspondence from the workers’ compensation insurer, including notices of denial, requests for additional information, or benefit payment records
- Medical records, physician notes, or work restriction documentation
- A written record of how and when you reported the injury to your employer, including any incident report forms that were completed at that time
Your attorney will assess the status of your claim, identify any procedural deadlines that apply, and advise on the most appropriate course of action.
What Are Important Wisconsin Legal Resources for Workers’ Compensation Cases?
Wisconsin workers’ compensation law is codified in Chapter 102 of the Wisconsin Statutes and administered through the Department of Workforce Development. The following resources are directly relevant to understanding your rights and obligations under that framework:
- Wis. Stat. Chapter 102 is the primary authority governing workers’ compensation eligibility, benefit types, dispute procedures, and employer obligations in Wisconsin.
- Wis. Stat. § 102.17 establishes the limitations periods applicable to workers’ compensation claims. Traumatic injury claims must generally be brought within six years of the injury or last benefit payment. Occupational disease claims carry a 12-year outer limit from the date of injury or last payment.
- The DWD Workers’ Compensation Division is the state agency responsible for administering Wisconsin’s workers’ compensation program, conducting hearings, and overseeing insurer compliance.
- The DWD publications page provides plain-language guidance on Wisconsin workers’ compensation insurance requirements and the rights of injured employees.
- The Wisconsin Court System provides information on the circuit court review process available to parties who appeal a Workers’ Compensation Division decision.
Reach Out to Hickey & Turim, S.C. to Schedule a Consultation
Our Cudahy workers’ compensation lawyer is available to review your case at no cost and with no obligation. Hickey & Turim, S.C. represents injured workers on a contingency fee basis, meaning no legal fees are owed unless benefits or compensation are recovered on your behalf. Contact us to schedule your free case review.