What the system is meant to cover
Workers' compensation is meant to pay for medical treatment and a portion of your lost wages after a work injury, without you having to prove your employer did anything wrong. In exchange, it is generally your exclusive remedy against the employer. The trade-off only works when the benefits actually arrive.
Paul M. Marriett steps in when the insurer disputes your claim, questions your treatment, pushes you back to work too soon, or undervalues a permanent disability.
What benefits the system provides
Wisconsin workers' compensation is meant to deliver a defined set of benefits after a work injury, without regard to fault:
- Medical treatment — reasonable and necessary care for the work injury.
- Temporary disability — a portion of your wages while you are unable to work during recovery.
- Permanent disability — compensation when the injury leaves a lasting impairment.
- Vocational retraining — help returning to work when you cannot go back to your old job.
The trade-off only works when those benefits actually arrive in full and on time — which is where disputes begin.
Why comp claims get disputed
A "no-fault" system still leaves plenty for an insurer to contest. The common flashpoints:
- Whether the injury is work-related — especially with repetitive-stress or aggravation of a prior condition.
- Pre-existing conditions — the insurer blames your history rather than the injury.
- Independent medical exams — a doctor chosen by the insurer downplays your injury or clears you too soon.
- Return-to-work pressure — being pushed back before you are ready.
Paul M. Marriett steps in on exactly these disputes, using your treating doctors' records and the facts of the injury to answer them.
When there is also a third-party claim
Workers' comp bars most claims against your employer, but not against someone else whose negligence caused your injury — a driver who hit you on the job, a subcontractor on the site, or a defective piece of equipment. That separate third-party claim can reach damages comp does not, including full lost wages and pain and suffering. Paul looks at both tracks together so nothing available to you is missed.
When to bring in a lawyer
A denied or terminated claim, a serious or permanent injury, a dispute over your ability to work, or a possible third-party claim alongside the comp case are all good reasons to get advice. The initial consultation costs nothing.
What a case costs
Cases like this are handled on a contingency-fee basis: no hourly bills, and the attorney fee comes out of any recovery. Clients may be responsible for litigation costs and expenses regardless of outcome — Paul M. Marriett explains exactly how that works, in writing, before you sign anything.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to prove my employer did something wrong?
No. Wisconsin workers' compensation is a no-fault system: you generally qualify for benefits because you were injured at work, not because anyone was negligent. Disputes usually turn on the injury and your treatment, not fault.
What benefits can workers' compensation provide?
Depending on the injury, benefits can include medical treatment, a portion of your wages while you recover, compensation for any permanent disability, and vocational retraining if you cannot return to your old job.
What can I do if my workers' comp claim was denied?
A denial is not the end. Denied and terminated claims can be disputed, and having an attorney marshal your treating doctors' records and the facts of the injury often makes the difference.
Can I be fired for filing a workers' comp claim?
Wisconsin law protects workers from retaliation for pursuing a legitimate workers' compensation claim. If you believe you were punished for filing, that is worth raising with an attorney.
What if someone other than my employer caused my work injury?
You may have a third-party claim in addition to workers' comp. It can reach damages comp does not, such as full lost wages and pain and suffering, and the two claims can proceed together.
How are attorney fees handled in a workers' comp case?
Wisconsin regulates attorney fees in workers' compensation cases: they are set by statute, come out of the benefits recovered rather than billed hourly, and Paul explains exactly how that works before you sign anything. The initial consultation is free.