How Long Does It Take To Get Workers’ Compensation After A Work Injury?
Every year, tens of thousands of people are injured on the job in Wisconsin. If your work injury required professional medical attention or you were forced to miss several days on the job, you may apply for workers’ compensation benefits. Employers in Wisconsin must provide no-fault workers’ comp insurance coverage to employees. This raises an important question: How long will I have to wait to get my workers’ comp claim paid in Wisconsin?
Workers’ Compensation Timeline: It Depends — But an Update Should Come Within Weeks
How long it will take to get workers’ compensation after a work injury depends on several different factors. In Wisconsin, injured workers typically receive an important update on the status of their claim within a few weeks. With some exceptions, you should receive written notice indicating your claim was approved or denied in two (2) to four (4) weeks. If you submit a claim and more than a month has passed and you have not received any update from your employer or insurance adjuster, call an experienced attorney right away.
Four Tips to Help You Get Your Claim Approved More Quickly
1. Report Your Accident Right Away
As the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development makes clear, injured workers have a legal duty to report their injuries to their supervisor/employer. Failure to do so could result in your claim being outright rejected. To ensure efficient processing of your workers’ comp benefits, make sure you immediately notify your employer.
2. Do Not Wait to File a Claim
Notifying your supervisor of your work injury is not the same thing as filing a workers’ comp claim. Make sure you submit all the paperwork without any unjustified delay. You should always take the time you need to build a proper claim, but, you do not want to wait too long to file a claim.
3. Attend All Medical Appointments and Provide Comprehensive Records
One of the primary reasons workers’ comp claims are delayed or denied in Wisconsin is disputes regarding medical records. While you cannot control mistakes made by the insurance company, you can certainly help to facilitate a faster claim by seeking medical attention, attending all follow-up appointments, and ensuring all relevant medical records have been included with your application.
4. Get Immediate Help if You Received an Adverse Decision
Unfortunately, some valid workers’ comp claims are initially denied. Although receiving an adverse decision will slow down the process, it does not mean you are entirely out of luck. If you have received a denial letter or other type of unfavorable decision, it is imperative you consult with an experienced Milwaukee workers’ comp attorney as soon as possible.
Call Our Wisconsin Workers’ Compensation Lawyers for Immediate Assistance
At Gillick, Wicht, Gillick & Graf, our Milwaukee work injury lawyers have aggressively fought to protect the legal rights and economic interests of injured workers and their family members since 1948. We will help you obtain the maximum available financial compensation in the most efficient possible manner. To get a free review of your case, please contact our law firm now. We represent injured workers in Milwaukee County, Waukesha County, Racine County, and throughout Wisconsin.