When you are injured on the job, a denial of workers’ compensation benefits can create serious financial and personal stress. Medical bills, lost wages, and uncertainty about your ability to return to work can make an already difficult situation even harder.
Keller Law Firm, P.C. represents Wyoming workers who have been denied workers’ compensation benefits or who are facing disputes concerning their claims. We help injured workers understand the reasons for a denial, evaluate their options, and pursue the administrative appeal process when appropriate.
You worked hard. Let us put in the hard work for you. To speak with a diligent Wyoming workers’ compensation lawyer, contact our Thermopolis law office today.
Why Local Representation Matters for Injured Wyoming Workers
National law firms may have name recognition and major ad budgets, but they likely don’t understand the needs of people here in Wyoming. They’ll treat you like a case number rather than a hard-working person who earned their workers’ comp.
The people of Wyoming deserve the local attention our law firm can provide.
Keller Law Firm, P.C. is located here in Thermopolis. We represent clients throughout the State of Wyoming. We understand that workers’ compensation disputes can be unfamiliar and frustrating, particularly when an injured worker is dealing with medical treatment, lost income, and uncertainty about the future.
Our goal is straightforward: provide practical legal advice for the people here in our state. We will clearly explain the workers’ compensation process and advocate for you at every stage of your claim.
How Our Law Firm Helps Injured Workers in Wyoming
Our Thermopolis law firm can help with all kinds of issues related to workers’ compensation denials, appeals, and the duration of benefits. If you are ever hurt on the job or involved in a work-related accident in Wyoming, you can count on us for help.
Denied Workers’ Compensation Claims
A letter of denial does not mean the end of your claim. Workers’ compensation disputes can involve questions concerning whether an injury is work-related, the extent of an injury, medical treatment, disability benefits, impairment ratings, or whether sufficient evidence has been submitted to support the claim.
Strict deadlines apply when challenging an adverse decision. Our Thermopolis workers’ comp attorneys can help you file a response promptly.
Written Objections and Administrative Hearings
During the appeal process, you must submit a written objection and a request for a hearing. This needs to be submitted within 15 days after the Final Determination is mailed. Your hearing may be handled by the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) or the Workers’ Compensation Medical Commission.
Our workers’ compensation attorney can help you draft your written objection and present new evidence at the formal hearing. If the administrative appeal is not successful, we can let you know about your other options for further appeals.
Disputed Medical Records and Medical Treatment
Some workers’ compensation claims are denied because of insufficient medical records that link an incident at work to your condition. In some situations, your injury or illness may be considered part of a pre-existing condition. In addition, failure to follow the recommended treatment for your condition could lead to a denial or interruption of your benefits.
In these situations, our lawyers can help ensure you have the proper medical evidence to prove the severity of your injury, that your injury is work-related, and that you’ve followed the treatment plan provided by your doctor.
Assistance with Different Disability Benefits
Our Thermopolis workers’ compensation lawyer can offer insight into different kinds of wage-loss compensation after an on-the-job injury.
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD): These benefits are provided to workers when their injuries prevent them from working while they heal. Injured Wyoming workers receive 66.6% of their monthly gross earnings or 30% of the statewide monthly average, whichever is greater.
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): These benefits are provided to workers who can work while injured but in a limited capacity that results in less pay. Inured Wyoming workers receive up to 80% of the difference between their light-duty wages and their pre-injury wages per month.
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): These benefits are provided to workers who have been permanently injured but are still able to work with reduced earning capacity (under 95% of pre-injury wages).
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD): These benefits are provided to workers whose injuries are so severe that they prevent them from earning a sustainable living.
Why Choose Keller Law Firm, P.C. for Your Workers’ Compensation Case
Injured workers need strong advocates who will fight for the benefits they earned. At Keller Law Firm, P.C., we care about your life, your livelihood, your dignity, and your ability to provide for your loved ones.
- We Honor the Spirit of Independence: Wyoming is a freedom-loving state, and our firm wants to embody this spirit. We protect people who put in honest work each day. You deserve dignity and respect after an on-the-job injury or illness.
- We Are Loyal to the Bighorn Basin: Do not think of us as white-collar elites who represent blue-collar workers. Our team lives in the Bighorn Basin and has even worked on the land here. We look out for our neighbors because we celebrate hard work.
- Our Word Is Our Bond: Whenever our workers’ comp attorneys promise something, we want you to hold us to our word. Your accountability allows us to put our word into action.
- We Fight to Win and We Never Quit: When you work with our firm, we will work for you. No matter the setback or the challenge, we will rise to the occasion for working people and their families.
- Peace of Mind Throughout the Fight: Workers’ comp cases are stressful, especially if you aren’t receiving any wage replacement. We get it, and we want to be your rock from beginning to end. Whenever you are overwhelmed, look to our law firm for strength.
Contact a Wyoming Workers’ Comp Attorney Near You
If your Wyoming workers’ compensation claim has been denied, it is important to understand your rights and any deadlines that may apply to an appeal. You worked hard for those benefits. Let Keller Law Firm, P.C. put in the work for you. To discuss your claim with our Wyoming workers’ compensation lawyers, contact our Thermopolis law office today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Workers’ Compensation
These are some common questions about workers’ compensation that we’ve heard from Wyoming workers and their families.
Why was my workers’ compensation claim denied?
Common reasons for workers’ compensation denials include:
- The work injury was not reported within 72 hours to the employer
- The Report of Injury was not submitted within 10 days to the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services – Workers’ Compensation Division
- The injury technically did not occur while at work
- Medical records do not show that an injury is work-related
- Lack of witnesses or inconsistent witness statements about the injury
- Failure to submit requested information
Remember that a denied workers’ compensation claim is not a dead end. Our lawyers in Thermopolis can help with the appeals process so you can receive the workers’ comp benefits you earned.
Can I sue my employer if I suffered an on-the-job injury?
Generally you will not be able to sue your own employer for work-related injuries. This is because workers’ compensation operates on a no-fault system.
However, you may have a legal claim if your employer failed to carry workers’ compensation insurance, your employer intentionally harmed you, or your employer knowingly concealed dangerous conditions at the workplace.
How long can I receive workers’ compensation in Wyoming?
It depends on the severity of your injuries and the type of benefit you receive. If you are on Temporary Total Disability (TTD), it can last for up to 24 months. If you receive Permanent Total Disability (PTD), it can last for up to 80 months.
When you work with our Wyoming workers’ comp attorney, we can review how your injuries affect your life, discuss the benefits you’re eligible for, and provide some understanding of how long these benefits may last.
What options do I have if my family member died in a fatal workplace accident in Wyoming?
If you lose a family member in a fatal on-the-job accident, you may qualify for death benefits. Death benefits help cover burial expenses and provide wage replacement for the surviving spouse and dependent children.
Keller Law Firm, P.C. can help you seek death benefits following a loved one’s passing. We will help explore all options for compensation based on what happened during the fatal incident.