Question By: Workers' compensation is a system designed to provide benefits to employees who suffer injuries or illnesses in the course of their work. In Wisconsin, the workers' compensation system is governed by state law, and it provides benefits to employees who are injured on the job or who develop a work-related illness.
If you are a worker in Wisconsin, it is important to understand the basics of the state's workers' compensation system. Here is what you need to know:
Who is Covered by Wisconsin Workers' Compensation?
Most employers in Wisconsin are required to carry workers' compensation insurance. This includes all private employers with three or more employees, as well as all public employers. Agricultural employers are required to carry workers' compensation insurance if they have six or more regular employees or 12 or more seasonal employees.
All employees are covered by workers' compensation in Wisconsin, regardless of their occupation or level of income. However, certain categories of workers may be exempt, such as some farm workers and certain types of independent contractors.
What Benefits are Available?
If you are injured or become ill due to your work, you may be eligible for a variety of benefits under Wisconsin workers' compensation law. These benefits can include:
Medical Expenses
You are entitled to have your reasonable and necessary medical expenses paid for by your employer or their insurance carrier.
Wage Replacement
If you are unable to work due to your injury or illness, you may be entitled to wage replacement benefits. This can include temporary total disability benefits (TTD) if you are unable to work at all, or temporary partial disability benefits (TPD) if you can work but are earning less than you were prior to your injury.
Permanent Disability Benefits
If your injury or illness results in a permanent impairment, you may be entitled to permanent disability benefits. These benefits are designed to compensate you for the loss of earning capacity caused by your impairment.
Death Benefits
If a worker dies as a result of a work-related injury or illness, their dependents may be entitled to death benefits.
Workers' Comp Is Only For Employees
These benefits are only for employees. You are eligible for workers comp if you get a W-2 and a weekly paycheck. In addition, some employers may attempt to classify you as an independent contractor.
This is sometimes done to avoid paying workers comp benefits. If you think this is happening in your case, talk to a workers' comp lawyer in Wisconsin.
After you are hurt at work, you may consider walking to the HR department and filing a workers' compensation claim. But is this a good idea? It may be a mistake to think your company has your best interests at heart. Remember, workers' compensation insurance providers make money by reducing payouts and denying claims.
That is why many injured workers turn to workers' compensation lawyers in Milwaukee for assistance. With the help of a workers' compensation attorney, you may be able to get more substantial benefits.
The workers' compensation lawyers at Gillick, Wicht, Gillick & Graf in Milwaukee are standing by to assist you.
For more details, visit https://www.gillickwicht.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-wisconsin-workers-compensation
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