Minneapolis Workers’ Compensation Attorneys

What To Do After Suffering a Workplace Injury?

Employers are required to cover medical expenses in situations where employees are injured at work. If you sustained a workplace injury, it’s crucial to report it to your employer as soon as possible and seek prompt treatment from a qualified physician to establish medical documentation of your injuries. 

Minnesota offers various types of benefits for workplace injuries. To successfully recover benefits in a workers’ compensation claim, it’s essential to follow these steps: 

1. Report the accident: It’s imperative to report the workplace injury to your employer as soon as possible to maintain eligibility for workers’ comp benefits. In Minnesota, injured employees are required to notify their employer of their injury within 180 days of the workplace accident.
2. Seek medical care: Seeking immediate medical treatment from a qualified physician is a must to recover workers’ comp benefits and address serious injuries. Even if you lack severe or obvious injuries, scheduling an appointment with your doctor is important to rule out life-threatening conditions that are less apparent, such as organ damage, internal bleeding, or brain damage.
3. Gather evidence to support your claim: Obtaining medical records and other relevant documentation is vital to establishing a robust and well-fortified case. Our lawyers can assist with gathering evidence, such as arranging expert testimonies, interviewing eyewitnesses, and obtaining security camera footage, to strengthen your claim as much as possible. 
4. Consult with a trusted workers’ comp lawyer: Our experienced attorneys can help you gather, organize, and present evidence effectively to hold your employer accountable for the workplace injury and ensure you’re compensated fairly. 

Consulting with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney is crucial to understand how to navigate the claims process and know what to expect after filing a claim. Our worker’s comp lawyers in Minneapolis offer unwavering support to workers during this challenging time. 

Why Was My Claim Denied?

Workers' compensation claims can be denied for various reasons in Minnesota, as in other states. Here are some common reasons why claims might be denied:

• Failure to Report in Time: In Minnesota, injured workers are required to report their injuries to their employer within 14 days. Failure to report within this timeframe could lead to a denial of the claim.
• Disputes Over Causation: The insurance company may dispute whether the injury or illness is work-related. If they believe the injury occurred outside of work or was caused by a pre-existing condition, they may deny the claim.
• Insufficient Medical Evidence: If the medical evidence supporting the claim is insufficient or inconsistent, the insurer may deny the claim. This could include inadequate documentation of the injury or treatment.
• Missed Filing Deadlines: In addition to reporting the injury to the employer, there are deadlines for filing the claim with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. Missing these deadlines could result in a denial.
• Failure to Seek Medical Treatment: If the injured worker fails to seek timely medical treatment for their injury, the insurer may deny the claim, as it could be interpreted as a lack of severity or urgency.
• Violation of Company Policies: If the injury occurred while the worker was violating company policies or engaging in misconduct, the claim may be denied.
• Independent Medical Examination (IME) Findings: In some cases, the insurance company may require the injured worker to undergo an IME by a doctor of their choosing. If the IME findings differ significantly from the treating physician's diagnosis, the claim may be denied based on the IME report.
• Pre-existing Conditions: If the injury aggravates a pre-existing condition, the insurer may deny the claim or only cover a portion of the medical expenses and lost wages.
• Fraudulent Claims: If the insurer suspects that the claim is fraudulent, they may deny it and potentially pursue legal action against the claimant.
• Failure to Follow Treatment Plan: If the injured worker fails to follow the prescribed treatment plan or does not attend medical appointments, the insurer may deny the claim.

Following up with a denied workers' compensation claim is crucial to ensure that injured workers receive the benefits they rightfully deserve. If your claim has been denied, it's essential to carefully review the reasons for denial and gather any additional evidence or documentation to support your case. 

If you believe the denial was unjust or incorrect, you have the right to file an appeal. Seeking guidance from an experienced workers' compensation attorney can help navigate the appeals process and increase the likelihood of a successful outcome. Remember, persistence and diligence are key when advocating for your rights to fair compensation for a workplace injury or illness.

Do I Need a Workers’ Comp Attorney? 

Navigating the complex procedural steps of filing a workers’ compensation claim can be overwhelming, especially while navigating the aftermath of a serious injury. One missed step can result in your claim getting dismissed, from submitting the wrong documentation or lacking proper medical documentation for your injuries. 

That’s why it’s imperative to secure experienced representation from a qualified workers’ compensation attorney as soon as possible. Many workers wait to consult a lawyer until their claim is denied, delaying the claims process and reducing their chance of obtaining benefits. The sooner you contact an attorney, the more likely you are to successfully recover benefits and the sooner you can focus on making a swift recovery. 

Even if your claim hasn’t been denied, we strongly encourage all injured workers to reach out for a free, confidential case evaluation with Fay & Associates. You can rely on our transparent communication and honest, upfront counsel to determine whether or not we can help you in your case. If you decide to partner with us, our advocates can deliver the personalized representation you need to protect your rights.   

What Are Workers’ Compensation Benefits? 

Workers’ compensation benefits are unique in every state. Without a comprehensive understanding of the workers’ compensation process, it can be difficult to know which types of benefits you may be eligible for. Fortunately, our workers’ comp lawyers in Minneapolis have a proven track record of winning results in such cases, allowing us to represent your best interests effectively while vigorously protecting your rights. 

There are various types of recoverable benefits in workers’ comp cases, including:

It’s important to have a general understanding of common terms used for temporary and permanent disability benefits. These include: 

Our firm makes it a top priority to ensure our clients fully understand the differences between the different types of workers’ comp benefits, the process to recover them, and how to seek appropriate medical care from a qualified physician. 

Fay & Associates has nearly three decades of experience advocating for wrongfully injured workers in Minneapolis and beyond. We prepare every case for trial and never hesitate to stand up to corporate giants or insurance companies seeking to mislead our clients, from using unnecessarily complex jargon to pushing lowball settlements. If you suffered a work-related injury, turn to a firm with a longstanding reputation for extraordinary results.