Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Serving Wisconsin
A work injury can affect your health, paycheck, and ability to support your family. You may be unsure how to report the injury, where to receive treatment, whether your claim will be accepted, or what to do if the insurance company delays or disputes your benefits.
Bosshard Parke helps injured workers throughout western Wisconsin understand the workers’ compensation process and pursue available benefits. Attorney Howard J. Eglash assists with denied claims, medical-treatment disputes, wage-loss issues, permanent disability, vocational rehabilitation, return-to-work concerns, and other complications that can arise after an on-the-job injury.
You do not have to navigate a workers’ compensation claim alone. Fill out the form to request an initial consultation about your Wisconsin work injury claim.
Schedule A Free Workplace Injury Consultation
What to Do After a Workplace Injury
- Report the injury promptly. Tell your supervisor or employer what happened and that the injury may be work-related. Put the notice in writing when possible and keep a copy.
- Seek appropriate medical care. Explain when and how the symptoms began, describe your work duties accurately, and follow reasonable treatment recommendations. If the workplace injury is an emergency, contact your local 24-hour emergency department, including Emplify Health by Gundersen in La Crosse, Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse and Sparta, Vernon Health in Viroqua, and Winona Health in Minnesota.
- Document the injury and its effects. Keep photographs, witness information, medical records, work restrictions, mileage records, wage information, and copies of communications with the employer and insurer.
- Follow your medical restrictions. Do not perform work that exceeds your restrictions. If suitable work is offered, understand the duties and discuss concerns with your medical provider.
- Review forms before signing. Make sure reports are complete and accurate. Keep copies of every form, letter, benefit notice, and medical document you receive.
- Contact attorney Howard J. Eglash if the claim is denied, benefits stop, treatment is disputed, or you are unsure which state’s rules apply.
Understanding Workers’ Compensation Claim
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Workers’ compensation can apply to many occupations and types of injuries. Examples include:
- Falls from ladders, roofs, scaffolding, stairs, or the same level
- Lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or overexertion injuries
- Machinery, tool, equipment, and construction-site injuries
- Vehicle accidents that occur while performing job duties
- Repetitive-motion and cumulative-trauma conditions
- Occupational illnesses and harmful-exposure claims
- Hearing loss and other work-related conditions
- Aggravation of a preexisting condition by work activity
- Fatal workplace injuries
NOTE: The fact that a condition developed gradually or involved a preexisting health issue does not automatically prevent a claim. Medical evidence must connect the injury, condition, or aggravation to the person’s work.
How Wisconsin Workers’ Compensation Claims Work
Wisconsin workers’ compensation claims are administered through the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. An employee should report a work injury or occupational illness to the employer as soon as possible. The employer generally reports the matter to its insurance carrier or claims administrator, which handles benefit payments and reports qualifying claims to the state.
When a claim is accepted, benefits may include reasonable and necessary medical care and compensation for qualifying wage loss or disability. When all or part of a claim is denied, the worker may seek informal assistance or request a formal hearing supported by appropriate medical evidence. Different deadlines may apply depending on the injury, claim history, and payments made, so injured workers should not rely on a single general deadline.
Workers Compensation and Third-Party Injury Claims
Workers’ compensation may not be the only source of recovery when someone other than the employer or a co-worker caused the injury. For example, a worker may be hurt in a car accident caused by another driver, in a commercial truck accident involving an outside company, on property controlled by another business, or because of the negligence of an outside contractor.
Wisconsin law may allow an injured employee to pursue a personal injury claim against a responsible third party while also receiving workers’ compensation benefits. These claims can affect one another through rules involving notice, reimbursement, allocation, and settlement. Before resolving either claim, it is important to understand how the workers’ compensation benefits and third-party recovery may interact.
Medical Treatment and Return to Work
Medical treatment and return-to-work decisions often become central to a Wisconsin workers’ compensation claim. Disputes may involve whether treatment is related to the work injury, whether a procedure is reasonable and necessary, whether an insurer-requested examination is required, or whether the employee can safely perform offered work.
Keep copies of work-status notes and make sure the employer understands all restrictions. If a position is offered, ask for clear information about its duties, schedule, and physical demands. Follow the restrictions provided by your treating medical professional and obtain guidance before assuming that a return to modified work ends the claim.
Independent Medical Examinations
A workers’ compensation insurer may require an injured worker to attend an examination with a medical professional selected by the insurer. This is often called an independent medical examination, or IME. The examiner may be asked to provide opinions about diagnosis, causation, treatment, restrictions, maximum medical improvement, or permanent disability.
Attend a properly scheduled examination, provide accurate information, and avoid exaggerating or minimizing symptoms. An attorney can explain what to expect and evaluate how the resulting medical opinion may affect the claim.
How Bosshard Parke Handles a Workers’ Compensation Claim
A workers’ compensation case may require careful coordination of medical evidence, wage records, benefit calculations, work restrictions, and communications with the employer and insurer. Bosshard Parke helps injured workers understand each stage and respond when benefits are delayed, denied, reduced, or stopped.
Workers’ Compensation Cases We Handle
- Denied or delayed work injury claims
- Medical-treatment and causation disputes
- Temporary and permanent disability benefits
- Return-to-work and work-restriction issues
- Repetitive-trauma and occupational-disease claims
- Independent medical examination disputes
- Settlement evaluation and negotiation
- Third-party claims connected to workplace injuries
- Fatal workplace injury claims
Our Workers’ Compensation Process
Meet Our Workers’ Compensation Attorney
Attorney Howard J. Eglash brings more than 35 years of trial and litigation experience to Bosshard Parke’s personal injury practice. He represents Wisconsin workers facing denied claims, disputed medical treatment, wage-loss issues, permanent disability, and other workers’ compensation concerns.
Howard previously served as President of the La Crosse County Bar Association. He believes injured workers deserve personal attention, honest answers, and clear guidance throughout the claim process.
Why Choose Bosshard Parke for Your Workers’ Compensation Claim?
- Decades of Injury and Litigation Experience – Bosshard Parke understands the medical, financial, and legal issues that can follow a serious workplace injury.
- Personal Guidance From an Experienced Attorney – Clients receive practical answers and direct representation tailored to their work, injury, and claim.
- Complete Claim Review – We evaluate medical evidence, wage records, benefit notices, work restrictions, and insurer decisions.
- Help With Denied and Disputed Claims – We identify why benefits were challenged and develop the evidence needed to address the dispute.
- Coordination With Third-Party Claims – When someone outside the employer caused the injury, we evaluate both workers’ compensation and personal injury options.
- Wisconsin-Focused Representation – The page and claim process are focused specifically on Wisconsin workers’ compensation law and procedure.
- Clear Fee Information – The written fee agreement explains when attorney fees may be charged and who is responsible for case expenses.
Howard Eglash was my attorney at the firm and he has gone to great lengths in my situation. The firms attorneys are without a doubt the best in the La Crosse area as Mr. Eglash is the most professional I have seen.
Bosshard Parke Client
Workers’ Compensation Representation Across Western Wisconsin
With offices in La Crosse and Sparta, Bosshard Parke represents injured workers throughout western Wisconsin.
Office Locations
Additional Areas We Serve
Don’t see your area listed above? Give us a call at 608-782-1469.
Workers’ Compensation FAQs
Do I have a workers’ compensation claim in Wisconsin?
You may have a claim if you are an employee and your work caused an injury, occupational illness, or aggravation of a condition. Eligibility depends on the employment relationship, medical evidence, notice, and specific facts. Fault is generally not the central question in Wisconsin’s workers’ compensation system.
When should I report a work injury?
Report the injury to your employer as soon as possible. Delayed reporting can create disputes and may affect eligibility. Give clear information connecting the condition to work, provide written notice when possible, and keep a copy.
Can I choose my own doctor?
Wisconsin provides injured workers with rights concerning the selection of treating practitioners, subject to rules governing additional choices, referrals, and out-of-state care. Ask for guidance before changing providers or assuming that treatment will be covered.
What if my workers’ compensation claim was denied?
A denial does not necessarily end the matter. Review the stated reason, gather the medical and employment records related to the dispute, and speak with an attorney about whether additional evidence, informal resolution, or a hearing application may be appropriate.
Can I receive workers’ compensation if the injury was partly my fault?
Wisconsin workers’ compensation generally does not require an employee to prove that the employer was negligent, and ordinary employee fault does not necessarily prevent benefits. Coverage can still be disputed for other reasons, including whether the injury arose out of employment.
What if I had a preexisting condition?
A preexisting condition does not automatically prevent a claim. Work activity may cause, aggravate, accelerate, or worsen a condition. Medical evidence is often critical to determining whether the work contribution meets the legal standard.
Can I be required to attend an independent medical examination?
An insurer may require a reasonable examination with a selected medical professional under Wisconsin law. The resulting opinion can affect treatment, disability, and causation decisions. An attorney can explain the process and how the examination may affect the claim.
Can I receive workers’ compensation and bring a personal injury claim?
Possibly. If someone other than the employer or a co-worker caused the injury, a third-party personal injury claim may be available in addition to workers’ compensation benefits. The claims interact, so reimbursement rights and settlement terms should be reviewed carefully.
Do I need an attorney if my benefits are being paid?
Not every accepted claim requires representation. Legal advice may be useful when treatment is disputed, benefits are stopped, an IME is scheduled, permanent disability is evaluated, a settlement is proposed, or you are unsure whether all available benefits are being paid.
How much does it cost to hire Bosshard Parke?
Bosshard Parke offers an initial case evaluation. Attorney fees in Wisconsin workers’ compensation matters are regulated by law. The written fee agreement will explain when fees may be charged and who is responsible for case expenses.
Talk With a Wisconsin Workers’ Compensation Attorney
If you were injured at work, denied benefits, told to return before you feel ready, or are having difficulty getting treatment approved, Bosshard Parke can review the claim and help you understand the next step.
To discuss your Wisconsin workers’ compensation claim, call 608-782-1469, or request a consultation below.