Injured at Work in Coeur d’Alene? We’ve Tried Cases There.
If you were hurt on the job in Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Hayden, or anywhere in Kootenai County, Goicoechea Law can help. Michael Kessinger has tried workers’ compensation cases before the Idaho Industrial Commission and argued before the Idaho Supreme Court right here in Coeur d’Alene — winning benefits for injured workers that insurance companies tried to deny.
Call 208.743.2313 for a free, confidential case review. No fee unless we win.
We Have Tried Cases in Coeur d’Alene
Many law firms that advertise for Coeur d’Alene workers’ compensation cases have never tried a case in Coeur d’Alene. Goicoechea Law has. We have represented injured Kootenai County workers before the Idaho Industrial Commission and before the Idaho Supreme Court — cases that established legal principles that protect injured workers throughout Idaho today.
Kelly v. Blue Ribbon Linen Supply — Idaho Supreme Court (2015)
In Kelly v. Blue Ribbon Linen, an injured Coeur d’Alene worker was involved in an automobile accident while traveling to a medical examination that the insurance company had scheduled and required her to attend. The Idaho Industrial Commission ruled against her. We appealed, and the Idaho Supreme Court reversed — holding that injuries sustained while traveling to a surety-compelled IME arise out of and in the course of employment. The employer bears the risk of travel conditions it imposes on an injured worker.
Read the Idaho Supreme Court decision →
Lopez v. Anheuser-Busch — Idaho Industrial Commission (2016)
In Lopez v. Anheuser-Busch, we represented a North Idaho worker who suffered a permanent aggravation of a pre-existing lumbar condition on the job. We secured medical care and temporary total disability benefits for our client before the Idaho Industrial Commission in Coeur d’Alene.
Read the Industrial Commission decision →
Welch v. Regulus Stud Mills — Idaho Industrial Commission (2012)
In Welch v. Regulus Stud Mills, a mill worker suffered traumatic finger amputations in a saw mill accident. We tried the case before the Idaho Industrial Commission in Coeur d’Alene and secured a permanent partial disability award of 75% — nearly double the impairment rating — after a detailed analysis of the worker’s physical limitations, education, and place in the labor market.
Read the Industrial Commission decision →
What We Do for Injured Workers in Coeur d’Alene
Workers’ compensation claims in Idaho are controlled by employers and their insurance companies from the moment of injury. The insurance company often selects the doctors, manages the claim, and decides what benefits to pay, and more importantly what to deny. Having an attorney who has actually litigated these cases in Kootenai County makes a real difference.
We represent injured workers in Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Hayden, Rathdrum, Sandpoint, and throughout North Idaho in all phases of a workers’ compensation claim:
- Denied claims — When the insurance company says your injury isn’t covered or doesn’t qualify
- Medical benefit disputes — When treatment is denied, delayed, or cut off prematurely
- Temporary total disability (TTD) — When you cannot work and need wage replacement benefits
- Permanent impairment and disability ratings — When your injury has lasting effects on your ability to work
- Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs) — When the insurance company’s doctor doesn’t tell the whole story
- Idaho Industrial Commission hearings — Full representation through contested proceedings
- Idaho Supreme Court appeals — When the Commission gets it wrong
What Injured Kootenai County Workers Need to Know
You have the right to legal representation. The insurance company has lawyers managing your claim. You are entitled to have a lawyer on your side.
There are deadlines. In Idaho, if no benefits have been paid, you generally have one year from the date of injury to initiate legal proceedings. Do not wait.
A settlement offer is not likely a fair offer. Insurance companies routinely offer settlements based on impairment ratings alone — without accounting for your age, education, work experience, and the actual job market in Kootenai County. Once you settle, you cannot reopen your claim.
The law may allow you to change doctors. You may request a change of physician, but it must be done properly. Changing doctors without authorization can jeopardize your medical benefits.
Why Goicoechea Law
Proven track record in North Idaho. We have tried cases before the Idaho Industrial Commission in Coeur d’Alene, secured benefits for injured workers, and won appeals before the Idaho Supreme Court. That experience matters when your case goes to hearing.
Focused practice. We limit our practice to workers’ compensation and personal injury. You get an attorney who handles these cases every day — not a generalist who fits your case in between other work.
We represent injured workers statewide. Goicoechea Law represents injured workers throughout Idaho, including Kootenai County and all of North Idaho.
No fee unless we win. You pay nothing upfront. We are only paid if we recover benefits for you.
Free Case Review — Call Today
If you have been injured at work in Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Hayden, or anywhere in Kootenai County, contact Goicoechea Law today for a free, confidential case review.
Call 208.743.2313 or fill out our online contact form. There is no obligation and no attorney fee unless we win your case.
Michael Kessinger is licensed to practice law in Idaho and Washington and has represented injured workers throughout Idaho, including North Idaho and Kootenai County, for more than 20 years.