Workers' Compensation

Our firm has been representing injured claimants before the Industrial Commission and Bureau of Workers' Compensation for over 25 years.  We are here to help guide you through the administrative procedure before these agencies.

An industrial injury can have devastating medical and financial consequences for a worker and the worker's family.  An injury can cut off paychecks, pile up doctor bills and even force workers to sell their home.  Some employers will want to send you to their "hired doctor" who will say that you are not hurt and do not need the medical treatment your doctor wants you to receive.  We can help the system treat you fairly.

Here a brief description of the system:

     The Bureau of Workers' Compensation is the administrative agency.  The Bureau oversees claim applications, claims and is the repository for claim documents.  The Bureau can make some decisions pertaining to claims and those decisions can be appealed to the Industrial Commission.

     When a dispute arises, the Bureau refers the claim to the Industrial Commission.  The Commission is an adjudicatory agency.  Through its hearing officers the Commission decides disputed issues.  The first hearing is before a District Hearing Officer who makes a decision.  If that decision is appealed, then the claim goes before a Staff Hearing Officer.  District and Staff hearing officers are lawyers.  From the Staff Hearing Officer a party can appeal to the Industrial Commission.  That appeal is discretionary, that is the Commission may or may not agree to hear the appeal in a formal hearing.  Beyond the Commission, some issues can be appealed to court in various manners.

At whatever level, we are here to help you and to see that you are treated fairly.