Injured at Work in Wisconsin? The Insurance Company Already Has a Lawyer.

You deserve one too — and ours have been fighting Wisconsin workers' comp carriers for over 20 years.

Wisconsin law is clear: if you're hurt on the job, you're entitled to benefits. What the law doesn't guarantee is that the insurance carrier will pay them willingly. Workers' comp insurers employ legal teams whose job is to limit what you receive. Most injured workers navigate that system alone, without representation, and without knowing what they're actually owed.


That's the gap we fill. At Janssen Law, we handle workers' compensation claims for injured workers across northeast Wisconsin — from Green Bay to Marinette to Hayward — and we know exactly how carriers operate because we've been litigating against them for decades.

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What Wisconsin Workers' Compensation Actually Covers

Workers' compensation is a no-fault system under Wisconsin law. Under Wis. Stat. § 102.03, benefits apply regardless of whether you contributed to the accident that injured you. You don't have to prove your employer was negligent. You don't have to prove the injury was someone else's fault. If it happened at work, it's covered.


Benefits available under a Wisconsin workers' comp claim include:



  • Medical expense coverage for treatment related to your work injury
  • Temporary total disability (TTD) payments while you're unable to work
  • Temporary partial disability (TPD) payments if you return to light duty at reduced pay
  • Permanent partial disability (PPD) ratings and compensation for lasting impairment
  • Vocational rehabilitation if your injury prevents you from returning to your previous job
  • Death benefits and burial expenses for fatal workplace injuries


Understanding what you're entitled to is the first step. Getting it paid is where the fight begins.

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How the Workers' Comp Claims Process Works in Wisconsin

The process looks straightforward on paper. In practice, every step is an opportunity for the carrier to dispute, delay, or deny.

Report the Injury

Notify your employer as soon as possible after a workplace injury. Wisconsin requires written notice within 30 days for most injuries. Missing this window can jeopardize your claim.

Seek Medical Treatment

Your employer or their insurer may direct you to a specific treating physician. You have rights regarding medical care — including the right to request a second opinion in certain circumstances. Do not assume the carrier-selected doctor is working in your interest.

File the Claim

Your employer is required to report your injury to their workers' comp insurer. The carrier then has 14 days to either begin paying benefits or issue a denial. If they deny, the clock starts on your appeal.

Respond to Disputes and Denials

If your claim is disputed or denied, you have the right to appeal before the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) and, if necessary, the Labor and Industry Review Commission (LIRC). This is where experienced legal representation makes a measurable difference.

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When a Denied Claim Is the Beginning, Not the End

A denial letter from a workers' comp carrier feels final. It isn't. Wisconsin provides a formal appeals process, and the majority of denials involve either procedural disputes or contested causation — both of which experienced attorneys address routinely.


Insurance companies deny first. They count on injured workers accepting that answer. We've seen what they deny and we know how to win those cases. Our attorneys have recovered over $250,000 for workers' comp clients whose claims were initially disputed or underpaid.


If your claim has been denied, don't assume the carrier got it right. Contact us before you accept anything.

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Your Job Is Protected. Filing a Claim Is Your Legal Right.

One of the most common fears we hear from injured workers is that filing a claim will cost them their job. Wisconsin law directly addresses this. Under Wis. Stat. § 102.35(3), employers are prohibited from retaliating against any employee for filing a workers' compensation claim. If your employer fires you, demotes you, cuts your hours, or creates a hostile work environment in response to your claim, that retaliation is itself a legal violation — and it's actionable.


Your claim and your job can coexist. The law requires it. We enforce it when employers don't.

Workers in hard hats assisting an injured man in a warehouse, one pressing a bandage to his ankle.

Workers' Comp vs. a Personal Injury Claim: When Both Apply

Workers' compensation covers most on-the-job injuries — but it isn't always the only avenue available. If a third party caused or contributed to your injury, you may have grounds for a separate personal injury claim in addition to your workers' comp benefits.


Common scenarios where both apply:

  • A delivery driver injured in a crash caused by another motorist
  • A construction worker hurt by a subcontractor's equipment or negligence
  • A worker injured by a defective tool or piece of machinery


Workers' comp provides wage replacement and medical coverage. A third-party personal injury claim can recover pain and suffering, full lost wages, and other damages that workers' comp doesn't reach. Our attorneys evaluate both paths on every case.

Contingency fee structure: you pay nothing unless we win your case

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Why Injured Workers in Northeast Wisconsin Choose Janssen Law

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Bob Janssen brings 35+ years of personal injury and workers' comp experience to every case

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Multiple Janssen Law attorneys have been named Wisconsin Super Lawyers — a distinction held by fewer than 5% of attorneys in the state

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You meet face to face with an attorney within 24 hours of contacting the firm

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We serve clients across northeast Wisconsin, with offices in Green Bay, Marinette, and Hayward

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Bilingual staff available for Spanish-speaking clients

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43+ five-star Google reviews from clients across our region

Workers' Comp Case Results

Our attorneys have recovered meaningful compensation for injured workers throughout northeast Wisconsin — including clients whose claims were initially denied or disputed by their employer's carrier.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Wisconsin Workers' Compensation

  • Do I have to see the doctor my employer picks?

    Wisconsin workers' comp law gives employers and their insurers the right to direct your initial medical care. However, you have the right to request a second opinion from a physician of your choosing in certain circumstances, and disputes about medical treatment can be brought before the DWD. Don't assume the carrier-selected doctor's conclusions are final — especially if their findings minimize your injury or push you back to work before you're ready.

  • Can my employer fire me for filing a workers' comp claim?

    No. Wisconsin Statute § 102.35(3) explicitly prohibits employer retaliation against employees who file workers' compensation claims. If you're fired, demoted, or otherwise penalized after filing, that retaliation is a separate legal violation and you may have an additional claim against your employer. Contact us immediately if this happens.

  • What if I have a pre-existing condition? Does that disqualify my claim?

    Not necessarily. Wisconsin workers' comp covers injuries that aggravate, accelerate, or combine with a pre-existing condition to cause disability or the need for medical treatment. Carriers frequently use pre-existing conditions to dispute or reduce claims — this is one of the most common tactics we see and one we address directly in litigation.

  • How do I file a workers' comp claim in Wisconsin?

    Start by reporting your injury to your employer in writing as soon as possible. Your employer is then required to notify their insurer, who has 14 days to accept or deny your claim. If your employer fails to report or the carrier denies without cause, an attorney can intervene directly. We walk every client through this process from the first call.

  • What if my workers' comp benefits aren't covering all my losses?

    Workers' comp is designed to replace a portion of lost wages and cover medical expenses — it does not compensate for pain and suffering. If a third party contributed to your injury, a separate personal injury claim may allow you to recover those additional damages. We evaluate every case for both options.

  • How long do I have to file a workers' comp claim in Wisconsin?

    Generally, you have two years from the date of injury — or from the date you knew or should have known the injury was work-related — to file a claim with the DWD. For occupational diseases, different timelines may apply. Don't wait to find out which applies to your situation.

Ready to Talk? There's No Cost and No Obligation.

A free case review costs you nothing. It takes less than 24 hours to sit down with one of our attorneys. And it may be the most important call you make after a workplace injury.