Injured at Work in Post Falls? We Represent North Idaho Workers.
Post Falls has grown into one of the most active industrial and manufacturing corridors in North Idaho and with that growth comes real risk of workplace injury. If you were hurt on the job in Post Falls, Rathdrum, Hayden, or anywhere in North Idaho, Goicoechea Law can help.
Michael Kessinger has tried workers’ compensation cases before the Idaho Industrial Commission and argued before the Idaho Supreme Court in North Idaho, winning benefits for injured workers that insurance companies fought to deny.
Call 208.743.2313 for a free, confidential case review. No fee unless we win.
Tried and Won in North Idaho
Post Falls sits in the heart of Kootenai County, and Goicoechea Law has a proven record of results in this area. The following cases were tried before the Idaho Industrial Commission and the Idaho Supreme Court in North Idaho:
Kelly v. Blue Ribbon Linen Supply — Idaho Supreme Court (2015)
In Kelly v. Blue Ribbon Linen, an injured Kootenai County worker was required by her employer’s insurance company to travel to a scheduled medical examination. She was injured in an automobile accident on the way. 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.
This case established a legal principle that protects injured workers throughout Idaho — including Post Falls workers who are required to travel to insurance-scheduled medical exams.
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. The insurance company argued the condition was pre-existing and not their responsibility. We won medical care and temporary total disability benefits before the Idaho Industrial Commission.
This case is a reminder that a pre-existing condition does not disqualify you from workers’ compensation benefits. If a work injury aggravates or accelerates a condition you already had, the employer is still responsible.
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 Kootenai County 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.
Post Falls and the surrounding area have a significant concentration of manufacturing and industrial employers. When a serious injury limits what a worker can do for the rest of their working life, the disability award should reflect that reality — not just the impairment rating the insurance company’s doctor assigns.
Read the Industrial Commission decision →
Who We Represent in Post Falls and Kootenai County
Post Falls has one of the largest concentrations of warehouse, distribution, light manufacturing, and industrial employers in North Idaho. Workers in these environments face real injury risk every day: lifting; repetitive motion; machinery; loading docks; and transportation. When something goes wrong, the insurance company’s goal is to pay as little as possible and close the claim as quickly as possible.
We represent injured workers in Post Falls, Hayden, Rathdrum, Coeur d’Alene, and throughout North Idaho in all phases of a workers’ compensation claim:
- Denied and disputed claims — When the insurance company disputes that your injury is compensable
- Medical benefit disputes — When treatment is denied or cut off before you have recovered
- Pre-existing condition disputes — When the insurance company blames your injury on something that existed before you were hurt at work
- 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 earn a living
- Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs) — When the insurance company sends you to their own doctor and you disagree with the result
- Idaho Industrial Commission hearings — Full representation through contested proceedings
- Idaho Supreme Court appeals — When the Commission gets it wrong
What Post Falls Workers Need to Know
Pre-existing conditions do not bar your claim. Insurance companies frequently deny claims by pointing to prior injuries or degenerative conditions. Under Idaho law, if a work accident aggravates or accelerates a condition you already had, the employer is still responsible.
Your disability may be worth more than your impairment rating. An impairment rating measures physical limitations. A disability rating accounts for your age, education, work history, and the actual job market. For many workers — especially those in physically demanding jobs — the disability award should significantly exceed the impairment rating.
You have the right to challenge the insurance company’s IME. When the insurance company’s doctor reaches a different conclusion than your treating physician, that dispute can and should be litigated. We know how to challenge IME opinions before the Idaho Industrial Commission.
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.
Why Goicoechea Law
We have tried cases in North Idaho. Many law firms advertising for Post Falls workers’ compensation cases have never tried a case in Kootenai County. We have — before the Idaho Industrial Commission and before the Idaho Supreme Court.
Focused practice. We limit our practice to workers’ compensation and personal injury. You get an attorney who handles these cases every day.
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 Post Falls, Hayden, Rathdrum, 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.