Milwaukee Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
At Domer Law, we have decades of combined experience helping injured workers throughout the state of Wisconsin—our track record of success is unmatched. We recognize the schemes and tactics of insurance companies, and we use that knowledge to maximize your benefits. Until our clients receive benefits, we collect no attorneys’ fees.
Why Hire Domer Law For Your Milwaukee Workers’ Comp Claim?
Workers’ compensation came about in the early 20th century as a reaction to unsafe work conditions at a time when Wisconsin workplaces were dangerous, and employers had little incentive to make them safer. Wisconsin was the 1st state to have a constitutionally valid worker’s compensation system in 1911. It established the “grand bargain” of worker’s compensation, where worker’s gave up the right to sue their employers for pain and suffering damages in exchange for defined, guaranteed benefits without having to prove fault or negligence. Since the system’s beginning, it has evolved into a long and confusing process. We are here to help injured workers navigate.
If you are trying to claim workers’ compensation, you should have an experienced lawyer on your side from the start. Here’s why you should consider working with Domer Law:
- Reputation: Attorneys Thomas Domer and Charlie Domer are two of the premier names in Wisconsin when it comes to workers’ compensation law. Their skill and knowledge have other attorneys, judges and courts regularly referring to their work and consulting them for questions, which means you’re in especially good hands.
- Experience: With 80 years of combined experience, our lawyers are particularly equipped to handle all types of legal issues related to workers’ compensation.
- Empathetic: We understand how difficult this time in your life might be and aim to ease the burden off your shoulders. Our caring attorneys offer the support you need through this process and keep you informed every step of the way. With our assistance, you can focus on healing while we focus on getting you maximum compensation.
At Domer Law, we can help you file an initial claim, evaluate a denied claim and take appropriate action to ensure that you get the benefits you deserve.
What Is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation replaces up to two-thirds of the income Wisconsin workers lose as a result of workplace injuries in the form of nontaxable insurance benefits. These benefits also help cover the costs of injured workers’ medical expenses and other losses they may incur. Workers also can pursue permanent disability claims if the injury leaves a lasting impact on the injured body part. Loss of earning capacity and/or vocational retraining benefits are available depending on the specific area of the body injured.
Types Of Work Injuries We Handle
We represent Milwaukee workers who have sustained injuries on the job, no matter their profession. We have the experience to handle many kinds of workers’ comp claims, including claims for:
- Permanent and total disability
- Head, neck, back and spine injuries
- Repetitive lifting and motion injuries
- Occupational diseases
- Mental injuries arising out of physical traumas in the workplace
- Disfigurements
- Fractures and soft tissue injuries
No matter what injuries you have, you deserve to seek compensation that considers the full scope of your injury and how it impacts your life and future.
How Do I File A Milwaukee Workers’ Compensation Claim?
The first things you must do before filing a workers’ compensation claim are:
- Report your injury to your employer
- Seek medical attention and document any care you receive
Immediate action and thorough record-keeping will aid you once you fill out your claim form with the help of your attorney. Keep in mind that Wisconsin law encourages notice of a workers’ compensation claims two years from the date of injury, so the sooner you complete it, the better. (However, the statute of limitations to file a disputed claim with the state of Wisconsin is six years from the date of injury or last payment for traumatic injuries, and 12 years for occupational exposure/repetitive job duty claims).
You can learn more about the world of workers’ compensation claims from any of the following informational resources:
- Workers’ compensation claims and hearing process
- What does workers’ compensation pay?
- What insurance companies don’t tell you
- Am I eligible for vocational retraining?
- Types of injuries
- Lump-sum payments
How Does Workers’ Compensation Differ From A Personal Injury Lawsuit?
Workers’ compensation claims are narrower in scope than personal injury lawsuits and can only be filed for injuries sustained in the line of work. Moreover, the workers’ compensation system is not fault-based, and workers can receive benefits even if they were partly responsible for their injuries (though their benefits may decrease slightly in some cases). Personal injury lawsuits, however, are fault-based and the damages awarded depend directly on a party’s degree of responsibility.
The biggest distinction is that a worker cannot pursue a claim for pain and suffering damages in a worker’s compensation injury case. A worker can pursue a claim for both worker’s compensation and personal injury if they suffer a work-related injury that is the fault of a separate, outside, 3rd party (for example, if a worker is struck by an at-fault driver while driving for work).
Do I Have To Sue My Employer In A Workers’ Compensation Case?
In Wisconsin, workers cannot sue their employers to obtain compensation for their injuries; this has been state law for over a century. Filing a workers’ compensation claim is the primary way for them to secure the financial relief they need.
Workers can sue any third party that bears responsibility for their injuries. This would be a personal injury suit that is filed separately from and in addition to a workers’ compensation claim.
How Much Money Can I Get In A Milwaukee Workers’ Compensation Case?
As previously stated, Wisconsin workers’ compensation benefits can cover up to two-thirds of workers’ missing income. Workers may also qualify for other types of benefits, too, depending on the nature of their injuries, including:
- Benefits for reasonable medical expenses
- Benefits for job retraining
- Permanent disability benefits (partial or total)
- Loss of earning capacity benefits for spine/head/mental claims if a worker has permanent restrictions and cannot return to work for the injury employer
- Death benefits for families
If you file a separate personal injury suit against a negligent third party, you may be able to collect more compensation than you will from workers’ comp benefits. For catastrophically injured workers, this additional compensation may be crucial to their future well-being.
Contact A Milwaukee Work Injury Lawyer
Our Wisconsin workers’ comp lawyers can help file your initial claim, represent you at a hearing and fight for full benefits. Our office is in Milwaukee, and we represent injured workers throughout Wisconsin. Contact us online or by calling 414-279-2647 to schedule a free consultation. We are ready to put our experience to work for you and until you receive benefits, we do not receive payment.