A workplace injury turns your world upside down in an instant. You’re in pain, you’re worried about your paycheck, and you’re not sure who to trust. At Brian Hodgkiss Injury Lawyers, we’ve spent over 20 years fighting for injured workers throughout Green Bay, the Fox Cities, and across Wisconsin. We’ve seen firsthand how confusing the workers’ compensation system can be when you’re already dealing with so much.

The questions below are the ones we hear most often. If your situation isn’t covered here, call us 24/7 for a free case review. You pay nothing unless we win.

What Is Workers’ Compensation and Who Does It Cover in Wisconsin?

Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system that provides medical benefits and wage replacement to employees injured on the job. Because it’s no-fault, you don’t need to prove your employer did anything wrong. The injury simply needs to be work-related.

In Wisconsin, nearly every employer is required to carry this coverage. Covered workers include full-time, part-time, temporary, seasonal, and minor employees. Independent contractors, certain agricultural and domestic workers, real estate agents on commission, and some corporate officers may fall outside the system. If your employment status is unclear, that ambiguity alone is a reason to speak with an attorney.

What Types of Workplace Injuries Qualify for Benefits?

Workers’ compensation covers injuries and illnesses that arise out of and in the course of employment. That includes sudden traumatic injuries like falls, machinery accidents, and vehicle crashes while on the job. It also covers repetitive stress injuries that result in conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome or chronic back pain that develops over time because of what your job demands from your body.

Occupational diseases caused by workplace exposures are also covered. Examples include respiratory illness, hearing loss, and certain cancers. If your work aggravated a pre-existing condition, you may still be entitled to benefits for the worsening of that condition. Insurance companies routinely use pre-existing conditions as grounds for denying claims. That tactic doesn’t make it legal, and we know how to push back.

What Should You Do Immediately After a Workplace Injury in Green Bay?

Your first priority is medical care. Green Bay workers have strong options:

• HSHS St. Vincent Hospital, located at 835 South Van Buren Street, offers a Level II Trauma Center with 24/7 emergency services equipped to handle severe workplace injuries.
• Bellin Hospital, at 744 South Webster Avenue, also provides comprehensive emergency care and specialized treatment for traumatic injuries.

After care, report the injury to your employer in writing as soon as possible. Wisconsin law provides a 30-day period to do so, but waiting creates problems. Delays give insurance companies ammunition to question whether the injury was truly work-related.

Document everything: photos, witness contact information, and every piece of medical correspondence. Then call us. Many injured workers don’t seek legal guidance until after a denial. Getting us involved early protects you from costly mistakes before they happen.

How Can I Get to Medical Care or Legal Help in Green Bay After a Workplace Injury?

We understand that after a workplace injury, getting to medical appointments or legal consultations can be challenging.

For those relying on public transportation, Green Bay Metro offers several bus routes with stops near our office and local hospitals, including HSHS St. Vincent and Bellin Hospital. Additionally, many local taxi services and rideshare options, such as Uber and Lyft, operate in Green Bay, offering flexible transportation for medical visits or meetings. Some hospitals and clinics may also provide patient shuttle services or transportation assistance programs, it’s worth asking when you schedule your appointment.

If you have mobility challenges or require specialized transportation, Brown County offers paratransit services for eligible residents, which can be arranged through Green Bay Metro’s specialized transit programs.

How Does Green Bay’s Economy Impact Workplace Injuries?

Green Bay’s economy is experiencing significant growth, particularly in construction and residential development. Downtown Green Bay alone has over 450 apartment units currently under construction, signaling a surge in building projects that create jobs but also increase workplace injury risks. This boom is fueled by population growth in Brown County, which added over 7,000 residents in the past five years, driving demand for new housing and commercial spaces.

Major projects like the Green Bay Public Market and ongoing redevelopment efforts in the Broadway District reflect a vibrant local economy with expanding construction opportunities. These developments not only create jobs but also underscore the importance of workplace safety and workers’ compensation protections for the local workforce.

Can I Be Fired for Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Wisconsin?

No. Wisconsin law expressly prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who file workers’ compensation claims. You cannot be fired, demoted, or punished for exercising your legal right to seek benefits.

That said, retaliation is not always obvious. Employers who want to push out an injured worker often find pretextual reasons. If your job status changes shortly after you file a claim (e.g., reduced hours, sudden performance issues, unexpected termination), that timing matters. Contact us immediately. Retaliation claims can exist alongside your workers’ compensation case, and you may be entitled to additional remedies beyond your work injury benefits.

What Happens If My Employer Doesn’t Have Workers’ Compensation Insurance?

Wisconsin law requires most employers to carry workers’ compensation coverage, but not all comply. If your employer failed to maintain required insurance, you can file a claim with the Uninsured Employers Fund (UEF), administered by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. The UEF exists specifically to ensure injured workers aren’t left without benefits because of their employer’s failure.

Beyond the UEF, you may also have the right to sue your uninsured employer directly in civil court, which opens the door to damages like pain and suffering that standard workers’ compensation doesn’t cover. This is a situation where having an experienced attorney makes a significant difference in what you ultimately recover.

Do You Have to Attend an Independent Medical Examinations?

An Independent Medical Examination, or IME, is a medical evaluation requested by the insurance company. Despite the word “independent,” these exams are paid for by the insurer, and the doctors who conduct them are often chosen because their opinions tend to favor the insurance company’s position.

In Wisconsin, you are generally required to attend an IME if the insurer requests one. Refusing can jeopardize your benefits. However, you have rights during this process. You can bring a witness. You should document everything that happens during the exam. And you should tell your own treating physician what the IME doctor said.

Our experience with IME disputes has shown that IME findings can be effectively challenged with the right medical evidence and legal strategy. Don’t assume an unfavorable IME result ends your claim. It often doesn’t.

Can I Cash a Workers’ Compensation Check Without Losing My Rights?

Cashing a workers’ compensation check for temporary disability or medical reimbursement does not, by itself, waive your rights to future benefits. These payments are simply what you’re owed under the law.

Where workers get into trouble is with compromise agreements and settlements. A final settlement (sometimes called a Compromise Agreement in Wisconsin) resolves your claim, often in exchange for a lump-sum payment. Once signed and approved, it typically closes your case permanently, even if your condition worsens later.

Do You Have to Sign a Medical Records Release for the Insurance Company?

This is one of the most important questions injured workers don’t think to ask. Insurance companies routinely request broad medical records releases. These are authorizations that provide access to your entire medical history, not just records related to your work injury. You are not required to sign a blanket release.

Signing an overly broad release gives the insurer access to unrelated conditions they can then use to argue your injury was pre-existing or not work-related. You have the right to limit the scope of any release to records relevant to your claim. An attorney can help you navigate this and prevent a routine paperwork request from becoming a weapon against your case.

What Benefits Are You Entitled to Under Wisconsin Workers’ Compensation?

Wisconsin workers’ compensation provides medical benefits covering all reasonable and necessary treatment with no co-pays or out-of-pocket costs for approved treatment. This includes emergency care, surgeries, prescriptions, physical therapy, medical equipment, and mileage reimbursement.

Wage replacement comes through temporary disability benefits.

• Temporary Total Disability (TTD) pays two-thirds of your average weekly wage if you can’t work at all.
• Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) covers two-thirds of the wage difference if you return to lighter duty at reduced pay.

There’s a three-day waiting period, but if your disability exceeds seven days, those first three days are paid retroactively.

Permanent impairment leads to Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) or, in the most severe cases, Permanent Total Disability (PTD) benefits that can continue for life. Vocational rehabilitation and death benefits round out the full scope of available coverage.

Why Green Bay and Fox Cities Workers Trust Brian Hodgkiss Injury Lawyers

Our results speak for themselves. We’ve recovered millions for injured Wisconsinites, including $7.9 million for a personal injury client whose insurer initially offered $300,000. These outcomes reflect what happens when an insurer’s lowball offer meets an attorney who won’t back down.

Cynthia, one of our clients, put it simply: “I was on my way to work and I was rear-ended. As my pain increased, I knew I would need a lawyer. Brian earned my trust…” That trust is something we work to deserve every single day, for every client, in every case.

Our No Fee Guarantee® means there is zero financial risk to calling us. We work on a contingency basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Contact Our Green Bay Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

You’ve been injured. The insurance company is already working against you.

See why injured workers across Green Bay and the Fox Cities choose Brian Hodgkiss Injury Lawyers for guidance with their workers’ compensation claims. Contact us or call anytime for a free case review, and we’ll help you work out what your case is worth. You pay nothing unless we win. Bank on Brian!