Workers Compensation Law Firm Oak Creek WI
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Workers’ compensation can be an invaluable program for employed Americans who sustain injuries on the job. Unfortunately, the workers’ compensation filing process is often extremely complicated and difficult to understand. Many workers who sustain serious injuries are denied coverage or simply don’t file a claim because they aren’t sure how the system works.
If you’ve been injured on the job, you might want to contact an Oak Creek workers compensation law firm. Our team has been helping Oak Creek residents for many years and we’re proud to offer trusted legal counsel to injured workers. We know how important it is to receive compensation after a serious injury, and we fight for our clients when an insurer unfairly denies coverage for a valid injury.
If you have additional questions about the workers’ compensation process, we encourage you to contact a workers compensation law firm in Oak Creek WI from our firm for more information.
Workers’ Compensation: The Basics
Workers’ compensation policies state-mandated programs operate very much like insurance policies. When an eligible worker sustains an injury during a work-related task, workers compensation is designed to provide monetary coverage to that worker for their losses.
Workers’ compensation can provide coverage for a variety of costs related to the individual’s accident. Some of the more common financial losses in a compensation package include medical bills, rehabilitation and physical therapy costs, and lost wages during recovery time. Compensation is intended to cover all losses associated with the injury, including predicted future losses.
Eligibility for Workers’ Compensation
There are several requirements you’ll have to meet in order to file a claim successfully. First, you’ll have to prove that you were injured at work or while performing a work-related task. Coverage might be granted if a work-related accident exacerbated a previous injury, but it’s recommended to speak with a workers compensation lawyer if this applies to your situation.
Workers who are not directly employed by a business cannot be covered through that business’ workers compensation policy. Additionally, if a business doesn’t have a workers compensation policy, injured employees cannot receive coverage.
Employer Coverage and Workers’ Compensation
Employers pay into workers’ compensation policies; employees do not have to worry about purchasing their own policy or paying into a program. The vast majority of businesses are required by state laws to be covered through a workers’ compensation program. Virtually all businesses in high-risk industries (such as the construction industry, for example) will have to pay into a workers’ compensation program for all of their employees.
FAQ: 5 Questions About Workers Compensation Benefits
Workers’ compensation programs were created as a way to help employees get the medical care they need if hurt while on the job. But, not every employee may be eligible to receive these types of benefits. The laws regarding workers compensation benefits may vary by state, so you may want to speak with an attorney from an Oak Creek WI workers compensation law firm about what specifically applies to you. Here in the article below, we have answered five common questions about workers’ compensation benefits.
What kinds of jobs may not receive workers comp benefits?
Employees that are seasonal, not members of the permanent workforce, or farm laborers may not be able to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Whether an employer must offer this program to their workers depends on several factors:
- How many employees are in the company
- What kind of work the company does
- The type of job tasks the workers are performing
What should I do if my employer turned in my paperwork late?
Despite many workers having faith that their employer will handle their workers’ compensation claim with diligence, this does not always happen. Sadly, an employer may be pressured to save the company money by intentionally mishandling your claim. Your employer may turn in the documents late, fail to keep you updated regarding the status of your application, lose the paperwork altogether, or even try to discourage you from filing in the first place. Such behavior can be unlawful. If you experience such treatment from your employer, you may want to seek legal advice from a workers compensation law firm.
Can I see my own doctor about the injury?
Depending on the laws within your state, you may be able to see your doctor about the work-related injury but only after you have been examined by the work-assigned doctor first. Sometimes, a doctor that has been chosen by the company may be biased to minimize your injuries or claim you can return to work before being fully healed. This may be just another way that your employer may be trying to save money, especially if your injury or illness was very serious and costly.
Are illnesses also covered under workers compensation?
Yes, illnesses may also be covered through a workers’ compensation program. If you become ill due to a job duty or environment, notify your employer immediately. It is not uncommon for workers to wait and see if their injury or illness gets worse before reporting it. If it is a work hazard that caused the condition, your employer may need to fix the problem before more workers get harmed.
When is it a good idea to meet with an attorney?
If at any point during the handling of your workers’ compensation claim you feel things were neglected or not taken care of properly, you may want to meet with an attorney. You may have been wrongfully denied benefits, or did not receive an amount adequate to take care of your condition to the fullest extent. A legal professional can evaluate your situation to determine if there is a chance of wrongdoing on behalf of your employer.
Speak with a Workers Comp Lawyer Today
If you’ve been injured in a work-related accident, you may be feeling anxious about what may come next. At Hickey & Turim, SC, we want you to know that you don’t have to go through the workers’ compensation process alone. If you have been denied coverage and you believe that you have a valid claim, a workers’ compensation law firm in Oak Creek WI like Hickey & Turim, SC can help you file an appeal or pursue other legal action.
At Hickey & Turim, SC, we offer free consultations for anyone who has sustained a work-related injury and is interested in filing a ‘compensation claim. To schedule your own consultation with an experienced and compassionate workers compensation law firm Oak Creek WI relies on, contact Hickey & Turim, SC today by phone or by email.
How Do I Ensure My Workers’ Compensation Claim Isn’t Treated as a Fraud?
Understandably, insurance companies don’t like to cover the costs of fraudulent workers’ compensation claims. As a result, all workers’ compensation claims are carefully scrutinized (and often investigated) in order to better ensure that insurance providers are spared the expenses associated with coverage of fraudulent claims. Unfortunately, claims investigation protocols are not an exact science. As a result, there are times when perfectly valid workers’ compensation claims are rejected as fraudulent. It is therefore important for workers who have suffered injuries on the job to consult with an experienced Oak Creek, WI workers’ compensation law firm before filing a claim. Seeking the guidance of experienced attorneys will help to ensure that your claim is not improperly rejected due to suspicions of fraud.
Avoiding Workers’ Compensation Fraud Charges
One of the reasons why it is important to speak with an Oak Creek, WI workers’ compensation law firm before filing a claim is that it is important to watch your behavior in certain ways while your claim is processing. In addition to making sure your claims paperwork is complete, an attorney can advise you of the ways in which your behavior could potentially impact the viability of your claim. Everyone handles pain and injury differently. For example, if two construction workers suffer the exact same kind of shoulder injury, it would not be unreasonable to see one working that injury out via rehabilitation exercises at the gym while the other prioritized ice and rest. But working out at the gym within days or weeks after a severe injury could raise red flags that a worker was not truly injured. Ensuring that you have access to the medical care you need and the medical advice you need will help you to “back up” your claims of injury, even if you are able to resume certain “normal” activities that others might not be able to handle if they had suffered the same injury. Similarly, an attorney will likely advise you to be careful of what you post on social media right now, as insurance providers are likely to see whether your posts seem to negate the validity of your claim.
Workers’ Compensation Assistance Is Available
If you have been injured while on the job, please schedule a consultation with an Oak Creek, Wisconsin workers’ compensation law firm today. The attorneys of Hickey & Turim, SC are highly experienced and can help you to obtain the full benefits you are entitled to in a timely manner. Just as it is not always easy to get your auto insurance provider or medical insurance provider to cover legitimate costs efficiently and effectively, it is similarly difficult to get workers’ compensation insurance providers to pay claims in-full and on-time. Working with an Oak Creek, WI workers’ compensation law firm throughout your claims process will help to ensure that you receive your full benefits and that your claim does not get unnecessarily entangled in red tape. We look forward to speaking with you.
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