Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Kenosha, WI 

A workers’ compensation lawyer Kenosha, WI trusts knows that when you wake up in the morning and head to work, it isn’t usually in your plan to get injured or experience an illness because of your workspace. Should you fall ill or become injured however, there is a program in place to ensure that you are not stuck paying for medical bills or losing out on any missed work. It is called workers’ compensation and it is a type of insurance that most employers have in order to cover any workplace accidents and injuries. At Hickey & Turim, S.C., we assist our clients with difficult workers’ compensation claims.

If you have suffered from a work-related injury or illness, you may be wondering if it is necessary to find a Wisconsin workers’ compensation lawyer to assist with your claim. If you suffered from a severe injury or have a complex workers’ compensation case, it may be beneficial to speak with a Kenosha, WI workers’ compensation lawyer from our firm to assist you with your claim. At Hickey & Turim, S.C., we have many years of experience helping people be sure that they are collecting all of the benefits for which they are eligible.

When is it Time to Call a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Kenosha, WI trusts?

It is never the wrong time to speak with a lawyer about your case. In fact, even if your claim is or seems to be very basic, it could benefit you to speak with a professional. A professional workers’ compensation lawyer can help you to understand the process of filing for workers’ compensation, handle paperwork and deadlines, alert you to any potential issues with your case, and even give you their honest opinion about whether or not you can even manage the case on your own. Here are a few more specific examples:

• If your employer delays in paying your benefits or denies your claim altogether.
• If your employer attempts to retaliate against you because you filed a workers’ compensation claim.
• If your settlement does not do an adequate job in covering your lost income, loss of potential income, or medical bills.
• If your injuries or illnesses leave you permanently disabled or disabled for a length of time.
• If your employer does not have workers’ compensation insurance.
• If you were injured because of the actions of a third party.
• If you were injured because of your employer’s misconduct.

When an employer denies an employee’s workers’ compensation claim, that worker may be shocked and not understand why. Unfortunately, it often comes down to one main factor: money. Just like other types of insurance, decisions are not usually made based on what is in the best interest of the person. Instead, insurance agencies choose depending on what would benefit the company the most. As an employee, this denial may leave you not only feeling outraged, but weighed down by the medical bills that you will now have to pay out of your own pocket.

Employer Bias

Sadly, many employers don’t automatically give their workers the benefit of the doubt when it comes to workplace injuries. Even serious, obvious, and traumatic injuries may be denied because the employer wants to argue that claims were not sufficiently verified through medical examinations and diagnostics. This can be particularly true to conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, lumbar back injuries, or other repetitive stress conditions. An employer or the insurance company may state that there could have been other external factors that contributed to the condition developing.

If your employer has denied your workers’ compensation claim, then now is the time to meet with a workers’ compensation lawyer in Kenosha, WI from Hickey & Turim, S.C. 

Premium Costs

The more workers’ comp claims that were submitted within a certain time frame, the more premium costs that an employer may have to pay. Insurance for workers’ comp programs raise when more workers have filed claims, or when one employee has sent a fairly expensive claim. An employer may deny an employee’s claim if the company is currently at a peak for how many have been filed in a short period. However, a WI workers’ compensation lawyer believes this is a wrongful reason to deny an employee who was injured at work. If this sounds like a situation you are currently in, then we advise talking with us about how to fight the denial. 

Other Reasons for Claim Denial

Your employer or the insurance company may deny your claim and then inform you via writing. The reason listed for why they rejected your claim can include that you didn’t sustain a serious injury, your injury didn’t occur at work (or within scope of job), you didn’t require medical care for the injury, or you didn’t need time off to heal or get treatment for injury. We want to remind workers who received a claim denial that the fight doesn’t have to necessarily stop there. Many employees may receive this letter and just accept this as the final result. In some cases, a claim denial can be fought with help from a Wisconsin workers’ compensation lawyer in Kenosha at Hickey & Turim, S.C.

Get the Help You Need from a Kenosha, WI Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

Depending on the extent of your work-related injury or illness, you may decide that you need the guidance of an experienced attorney. If your injuries are severe and could potentially leave you with a long-term or even permanent disability, a workers’ compensation lawyer from Hickey & Turim, S.C., could be of assistance in getting your claim together to ensure that you are able to collect all of the benefits for which you are eligible. The more severe or serious your injuries, the more imperative it is that you get assistance to insure that you are able to be compensated for any missed work or medical bills. Call our office to set up a consultation today with a workers’ compensation lawyer in Kenosha, WI.

The bottom line is that many employers watch out for their company before prioritizing the health of their workers. If you are an employee who feels their claim was wrongfully denied, then it’s time to take legal action. We can book you an appointment for a case evaluation with a Kenosha, WI workers’ compensation lawyer at Hickey & Turim, S.C. right away. 

If you sustained an injury at work, you should speak with a Kenosha, WI workers’ compensation lawyer. Your day may have started normally, but then something happened that sent it in an unintended direction. When you get hurt as a result of your job duties, it can mean you now face medical appointments, downtime, and bills that were unforeseen.

Getting injured on the job may throw a wrench in every aspect of your life. You may have a general idea of what you should do in the face of a work injury, but if you have never gone through the process, you may need some help. Read up on four steps you should be ready to take should you find yourself hurt while at work and contact a workers’ compensation lawyer in Kenosha, Wisconsin from Hickey & Turim Law Firm.

4 Steps To Take When Hurt at Work

1. Report the Incident to Your Employer

First and foremost, you cannot get help if you don’t report the injury. If the circumstances surrounding your incident were dire, you might find yourself in the back of an ambulance. You may assume this means your company is aware of the injury. While this may be true, you still have to report the incident to your supervisor, the human resources department, or a designated representative. Without notification, your employer may not have what it needs to open a workers’ compensation claim with their carrier.

2. Get Medical Help 

To file a workers’ compensation claim and receive treatment, a doctor must author a report stating your injury and the circumstances surrounding it. When you seek treatment, you must inform the provider that you were hurt at work. Doing this ensures the doctor or treating facility certifies the injury as being eligible for workers’ compensation.

3. Stay on top of Hours Missed 

You may be able to return to work immediately after the injury depending on your job and the nature of the incident. However, there is a chance that you will have follow-up medical appointments or need time off to recover. In this case, you must keep track of the amount of time you miss from work. Do this in terms of days and hours. The time may add up, and you may be eligible to get money from the workers’ compensation carrier for the missed income. Your workers’ compensation lawyer in Kenosha, WI can help you with this. 

4. Understand the Laws in Your State 

Not all states require companies to carry workers’ compensation insurance coverage for employees. Therefore, it falls to you, the injured worker, to become familiar with the particular laws where you live. Your company may have furnished this information when you were hired, or you may have to seek outside assistance. Regardless, knowing your rights may help you choose an appropriate course of action.

Speak With a Kenosha, Wisconsin Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Now!

A workers’ compensation lawyer is a strong ally after you suffer an injury at work. Their expertise and knowledge with the system may get you the best possible outcome for your situation. To see how we can help, contact a workers’ compensation lawyer in Kenosha, WI from Hickey & Turim SC Law Firm! 

Important Evidence for Workers’ Compensation Claims

If you have suffered an injury at work, you may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits. However, in order to receive these benefits, you need to provide concrete evidence that you were indeed hurt at work. Many workers’ compensation claims have been denied because of insufficient evidence. A Kenosha, Wisconsin workers’ compensation lawyer at Hickey & Turim SC provides the following list of the evidence you need to have a successful claim.

Medical Records

Medical records are one of the most important pieces of evidence in a workers’ compensation case. They show that your injuries did occur in the workplace. These records also describe the severity of your injuries and the types of treatments you will require. For example, if you suffered a head injury, you may require physical rehabilitation for several months. Your workers’ compensation lawyer in Kenosha WI will obtain medical records from all the medical providers you’ve seen, including emergency room doctors, family physicians, and physical therapists.

Medical Bills

Your medical bills are another thing you will want to hold onto for your workers’ compensation claim. These bills are proof of the costs you have incurred thus far for your injury. Your workers’ compensation lawyer in Kenosha WI will need to provide those bills to the insurance company for payments. In some cases, medical providers may bill the insurance company directly.

Employment Records

Be sure to save pay stubs to prove the amount of hours you worked every week and your hourly wage. Although your employer should provide the workers’ compensation insurance company with your weekly wage, having this information to give to your Kenosha WI workers’ compensation lawyer will help if there are any issues regarding the benefit amount you deserve.

Accident Report

After you get injured in the workplace, it is important to notify your employer immediately so that they can make an accident report. This report will include pertinent details about the accident, such as where and how it occurred and the injuries you sustained. Ask for a copy of this accident report as soon as it is available.

Witness Statements

If there were co-workers and others who witnessed your workplace accident, they could be an important element of your workers’ compensation claim. If the insurance company tries to dispute your claim, these witnesses could say that they saw you get hurt at work.

Economic Expert

While some work injuries are fairly easy to recover from, others can lead to permanent disability. If your work injury has resulted in a permanent disability that prevents you from working, you may be entitled to lifetime disability payments. However, it may be necessary to hire an economic expert to determine the value of your future lost wages.

When You Should Hire a Workers Compensation Lawyer

Your Proposed Settlement Doesn’t Cover Your Costs

After you file your workers compensation claim, your employer’s insurance company may contact you with a settlement offer. Unfortunately, most of the time, this offer is way too low to cover your medical costs and lost wages. If you receive a settlement offer that is too small, you should contact a workers compensation lawyer in Kenosha WI, such as Hickey & Turim SC. These professionals can help you negotiate a better settlement or argue your case in court.

Your Claim is Denied

If you have a valid claim, and your employer or the insurance company denies your claim, you should contact an attorney immediately. In many cases, insurance companies will deny your first attempt at collecting money. Their job is to make a profit, and paying claims defeats this purpose. In addition, many individuals won’t fight after they receive a denial, even if the claim is valid. Because you will typically pay nothing upfront, there is no downside to working with a workers compensation lawyer in Kenosha WI.

You Experience Retaliation at Work

If you are able to go back to work after an injury, your work environment should not change. However, sometimes, an employer may retaliate against you for filing your claim. This is unfortunate, and it is not legal. Therefore, if your hours are changed, you are demoted or fired or you experience a reduction in your salary, you should seek the help of a workers compensation lawyer, such as Hickey & Turim SC. These individuals can help you navigate the discrimination and should be able to get it stopped. If further legal action is necessary, you have an attorney who is familiar with your case.

You Cannot Return to Work

Unfortunately, there are accidents that prevent you from returning to your job due to a permanent disability. Your work may also be limited in these cases. Partial or total permanent disability can have a significant impact on your financial situation. Therefore, you may be eligible for weekly payments or a lump sum settlement to cover this lost income. However, the insurance company will fight this kind of settlement, so your best defense is a workers compensation lawyer in Kenosha WI. These professionals know how to estimate the care and financial support you will need. They are also adept at negotiation and persuasive in court. They also have assets, such as expert witnesses, that help them make your case.

If you have been injured at work, you should speak to an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer Kenosha WI workers recommend from Hickey & Turim SC as soon as possible. They can review the details of your case and advise you the best way to proceed. A workers’ compensation lawyer can ensure that your legal rights are protected and improve your chances of getting a fair settlement.