If you sustain injuries on the job, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. To secure funds for medical expenses, lost wages, and disability, you must first build a strong claim. Fortunately, a seasoned attorney can help. Your lawyer will guide you through every stage of the claims process, including the following.

3 Steps for Obtaining Workers’ Comp Benefits 

1. Document All Medical Care

In the state of Wisconsin, injured employees are entitled to choose their own providers when it comes to treating work injuries. For the care to be covered, you must track all resulting expenses. Examples include co-pays, prescription costs, and parking fees. An attorney can help you track all expenses from day one. 

2. Notify Your Employer 

You have just 30 days to notify your employer of any injuries, so it’s wise to do so as soon as possible. In the case of an occupational disease, you should give your employer notice within 30 days of the time when you know your disease is connected to your employment. Your employer must then file a claim with their insurer. It’s important to note that if you miss this deadline, it may still be possible to recover benefits. However, you must submit a notice within 2 years, and the delay must not have misled your employer.

3. Follow up With the Insurer

Upon receiving notice of your condition, your employer must submit a First Report of Injury form with their insurer. The insurance company has 14 days after the accident or beginning of a disability to file a report with the Wisconsin Department of Labor & Industry and, if the claim is not accepted, 14 days from the injury to provide notice to you either the claim is being denied with the specific reason, or the claim is being not paid because they are still investigating. 

If you need help navigating the workers’ compensation claims process, turn to the compassionate attorneys at LaRowe Gerlach Taggart LLP in Reedsburg, WI. Their knowledgeable team has more than 175 years of combined experience practicing law in a variety of areas. In addition to personal injury and workers’ compensation claims, they assist with bankruptcy filings, estate planning, divorce proceedings, criminal defense, business litigation, and real estate transactions. To request a meeting with one of their attorneys, call (608) 524-8231 or reach out on their website.