When you get hurt on the job, you need to find a way to cover your medical bills and other expenses. For most people, this means filing a claim for workers’ compensation benefits.

But, how do you know if you are eligible for workers’ compensation? If you are eligible, how do you file a claim and collect the benefits you deserve? We recently discussed the eligibility requirements for workers’ comp, and in this article we provide an overview of the workers’ compensation process.

How To File for Workers’ Compensation in Wisconsin

To begin, it is important to understand that filing for workers’ compensation benefits is not necessarily a straightforward process. While the process can be fairly straightforward if your employer’s insurance company treats you fairly and you don’t need to miss time from work, it can also be difficult, time-consuming, and very frustrating. As a result, while you can try to file a claim on your own, it is generally best to entrust your claim to an experienced Madison workers’ compensation attorney.

1. Report Your Injury at Work

The first step toward collecting workers’ compensation benefits is to report your injury at work. As the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) explains:

“An injured employee should give notice to the employer within 30 days of any injury. . . . However, if notice is not given within 30 days, it is still possible to give notice any time within two years of the date the injury occurred. . . . If the employer receives notice within two years and the employer was not misled by the fact that earlier notice was not given, benefits may be payable. The two-year limit does not apply if the employer knew or should have known of the injury.”

In other words, you should report your injury to your employer within 30 days if possible (and ideally right after you get injured). But, if it has already been more than 30 days, you may still be entitled to benefits, and you should consult with an attorney promptly.

When you report your injury, your employer may ask you to complete an incident report, and it is generally okay to do so. You just want to make sure you provide accurate information and do not make any assumptions about what may or may not have happened. Minimally, when reporting your injury you should include:

• The time and date you got injured
• Your type of injury (i.e. a broken bone or muscle strain)
• The part of your body that was injured
• The circumstances surrounding your injury
• Whether your injury requires medical attention

If you have any questions or concerns about reporting your injury to your employer, an attorney can help, and you should schedule a free consultation as soon as possible.

2. Seek Treatment for Your Injury

It is also important that you seek medical treatment for your injury as soon as possible. In Wisconsin, you have the right to see any doctor of your choosing, so you can seek treatment before or after you report your injury to your employer.

When seeking treatment, you should explain your symptoms with as much detail as possible. You should also be sure to tell your doctor that you suffered your injury at work. Try to get copies of your x-rays, scans, and other records so that you can provide them to your attorney.

3. Document Your Injury

As the Wisconsin DWD also explains, “Complications can arise in a worker’s compensation claim, and the amount of benefits is then determined by the specific facts of the case. It is important that the injured employee keep a record from the beginning.” In order to fully document your work injury, it is a good idea to make note of details including:

• All information you reported to your employer
• The names of any coworkers who witnessed your injury
• Your initial and ongoing symptoms
• How long each symptom has lasted
• Your doctors’ names and phone numbers
• Any bills you have paid for medical care or transportation
• The dates that you miss time from work

4. Calculate Your Benefits

When filing for workers’ compensation, it is extremely important to ensure that you accurately calculate your benefits. In addition to coverage for your medical expenses, if you are unable to work more than three days after your injury, you may also be entitled to temporary or permanent disability benefits. Disability benefits are generally calculated at two thirds of your weekly wage, although there are maximum coverage limits for high-earning employees.

In terms of how long you can receive disability benefits, the answer depends on the severity of your injury. For example, temporary total disability benefits are paid, “until the employee’s condition has become stabilized and treatment and convalescence are not likely to result in additional improvement,” while permanent total disability benefits can potentially be paid for life.

5. Negotiate a Settlement (if Appropriate) or Apply for a Hearing (if Necessary)

Once you have fully documented your injury and calculated the benefits you are entitled to recover, you can start focusing on resolving your workers’ compensation claim. In some cases, this may simply mean receiving medical coverage and weekly disability payments until you recover. However, it is also possible to negotiate a settlement, and this is an option that many workers prefer since it avoids the uncertainty of keeping your claim open.

If your employer’s insurance company refuses to pay the benefits you are owed, then you might need to apply for a hearing with the Wisconsin A hearing on a disputed claim is a legal process, and it will be strongly in your best interests to seek experienced legal representation.

Talk to a Madison Workers’ Compensation Attorney for Free

Do you need to file for workers’ compensation benefits in Wisconsin? If so, our Madison workers compensation attorneys can help you seek the benefits you deserve. Call 608-257-0440 or tell us how we can reach you online to schedule a free and confidential consultation.

For many workers in Wisconsin, recovering their losses after suffering a job-related injury involves filing a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. If you have been injured and are wondering if you are eligible to file, here is an overview of what you need to know:

5 Important Facts about Workers’ Compensation Eligibility in Illinois

1. Workers’ Compensation is a “No Fault” System in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, workers’ compensation is a “no fault” system. This means that proof of fault is not required in order to file a claim with your employer. Even if you simply tripped going up the stairs, you can file a claim as long as your injury is “job-related” (more on this below).

This access to “no fault” benefits comes with a tradeoff. While you can file a workers’ compensation claim even if your employer is not at fault for your injury, the amount your employer has to pay is limited. Employers that comply with Wisconsin’s workers’ compensation law are immune from job injury lawsuits in most cases. As a result, while eligible employees can file claims regardless of fault, the benefits that are available through workers’ compensation are limited to:

• Medical benefits
• Partial wage replacement benefits (also referred to as disability benefits)
• Training and vocational benefits

However, many injured employees are still entitled to substantial workers’ compensation benefits. If you have been seriously injured, and if you are unable to work as a result of your injury, it will be important for you to work with an experienced Madison workers’ compensation lawyer to make sure you seek the full benefits you deserve.

2. Workers’ Compensation Benefits are Available to Employees

In order to be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, you must be classified as an employee. Under Wisconsin law, independent contractors are not eligible to file for workers’ compensation. As explained by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD):

“All employees working for an employer (other than farmers) with three or more workers are protected immediately by the Worker’s Compensation Act. Employers with fewer than three workers come under the law if they pay wages of $500 or more in any quarter of a calendar year. . . . Farm workers are covered if the farm employer has six or more employees on 20 or more days in a calendar year.”

While most employees are covered, some are not. Specifically, Wisconsin’s workers’ compensation law does not apply to:

• Domestic servants
• Employees who do not work “in the trade, business, profession or occupation of the employer”
• Small farm employees
• Volunteers
• Qualifying religious sect members
• Employees of Native American tribal enterprises
• Employees who are covered under federal workers’ compensation programs

What if you fall into one of these categories? Or, what if you are an independent contractor? If you are not eligible for workers’ compensation benefits under state or federal law, then you will need to seek compensation through other means. One option may be to file a personal injury lawsuit against your employer. You could also have a claim against another party (i.e. a property or vehicle owner, depending on how you got injured), and an attorney can assess your eligibility for other government benefits (i.e. Social Security disability) as well.

3. Workers’ Compensation Covers Most Causes of Job-Related Injuries

Since workers’ compensation is a “no fault” system, most causes of job-related injuries are covered. While your injury must be “job-related,” you do not need to be engaged in performing your specific job duties at the time you get injured in order to be eligible for benefits. For example, the following are all common causes of job-related accidents that can justify claims for workers’ compensation benefits:

• Slipping and falling while walking to the bathroom or kitchen
• Slipping and falling in the parking lot
• Hurting your back while squatting, twisting, or bending
• Accidents that occur while you are traveling for work

These, of course, are in addition to job-related accidents such as falls, collisions, tool and machinery accidents, and exposure to harmful substances or electrical currents. Regardless of what happened, if you have been injured on the job in Wisconsin, you should speak with a local attorney about your legal rights.

4. Workers’ Compensation Covers Most Types of Job-Related Injuries and Illnesses

In Wisconsin, workers’ compensation covers virtually all types of job-related injuries, and it covers most types of job-related illnesses. Eligible employees can collect workers’ compensation benefits for:

• Physical injuries from accidents and repetitive stress (including soft tissue injuries, nerve damage, broken bones, herniated discus, concussions, and other types of injuries)
• Impairment or loss of hearing, vision, or other bodily function
• Mental harm (including “nervous disorders, hysteria, and traumatic neurosis”)
• Occupational diseases  resulting from “exposure over a period of time to some employment-related substance, condition or activity”

What about COVID-19? As the Wisconsin DWD explains, “[t]he short answer is maybe.” If a qualifying employee is able to demonstrate that his or her diagnosis is the result of exposure at work, then that employee should be able to file a successful claim for benefits.

5. Our Madison Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Can Determine Your Eligibility

Given the challenges involved with determining your eligibility and making sure you receive the full benefits to which you are legally entitled, it will be important for you to speak with a lawyer about your workers’ compensation claim. At Mays Law Office, we provide full-service legal representation for injured workers. We can assess your eligibility for all types of claims; and, if you are entitled to compensation, we can help you seek the maximum compensation available. To find out if you are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, contact us for a free consultation today.

Speak with a Madison Workers’ Compensation Lawyer for Free

Were you injured on the job in Wisconsin? If so, our Madison workers’ compensation lawyers can assess your legal rights and help you fight for the compensation you deserve. To get started with a free, no-obligation consultation, call us at 608-257-0440 or tell us about your situation online today.