Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Attorneys: Putting Our Experience To Work For You
At Malone Bailey, we help injured workers across Minnesota navigate workers’ compensation claims and Social Security Disability application processes. We customize our approach to each person’s unique set of circumstances and concerns.
We are committed to delivering high-caliber legal services after you have suffered an injury on the job. We are ready to respond and help you no matter where you are in Minnesota. We conduct business statewide in face-to-face meetings, by phone and digital communications and through video conferences. Our offices are conveniently located in Brainerd, Edina and St. Cloud.
Industrial And Construction Workers Face Unique Workers’ Comp Challenges
As a worker in the construction and industrial industries, you face a variety of risks daily. These risks can range from minor injuries to life-threatening incidents that can have long-lasting effects on your health and well-being. Some of the most common injuries we deal with include falls from heights, being struck by falling objects and being caught between machinery or equipment. In addition, exposure to hazardous chemicals, loud noise and repetitive motions can also lead to chronic health problems.
The nature of construction work means that you are constantly exposed to dangerous conditions that can put your safety at risk. For example, you may work in confined spaces, operate heavy machinery or handle hazardous materials. Additionally, you may work in environments where weather conditions or poor lighting can make it difficult to see potential hazards.
You can be injured on the job in many ways and must take steps to protect yourself. This can include wearing appropriate safety gear, such as hard hats, safety glasses and gloves, and following proper safety procedures when operating machinery or working in hazardous areas. It is also important to report any safety concerns or hazards to your supervisors so that they can address the situation before it causes harm to you or your coworkers.
Comprehensive Legal Representation For Minnesota Workers’ Comp
You may have been injured as an industrial worker, truck driver, construction worker, health care professional or white collar worker in the Twin Cities or elsewhere in Minnesota. You may benefit from a workers’ comp lawyer’s help regarding:
- Your initial workers’ compensation claim
- Your right to see a doctor of your choosing
- Payment for death dependency claims
- Payment for permanent partial disability (PPD) compensation for functional loss of use or impairment of function as a result of the injury
- Delays or cessation of benefits that should be rightfully yours
- Workers’ comp appeals for a denied claim or undervalued claim
- Payments for permanent total disabilities (PTD): these are wage loss benefits paid when you are unable to return to gainful employment due to your injuries
- Wage loss benefits for temporary total and partial disabilities (TTDs and TPDs)
- Employment law issues related to your necessary time off work for healing
From filing an initial claim to appealing a denied claim, an injured worker may need advice and assistance at any point along the way. For more than 30 years, our firm has worked to protect injured workers’ rights and help them find relief.
Common Questions And Answers About Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Claims
Workers’ compensation is one of those areas of life that most people rarely think about until it suddenly becomes important to them. At Malone Bailey, with offices in Edina, St. Cloud and Brainerd, we regularly answer questions that prospective and existing clients ask us. Here, our workers’ comp lawyers have compiled answers to some of the most common. For questions about your specific case, we offer a free initial consultation.
Is a workers’ compensation claim the same as a lawsuit against my employer?
No. The workers’ compensation system was designed to protect both employees and employers from expensive litigation as well as delays in the delivery of medical treatment for injured workers.
When you tap into your rightful workers’ compensation benefits, your employer’s insurer or your self-insured employer will pay for your medical care and, if necessary, protect your cash flow through wage loss benefits and, possibly, occupational retraining. You may also be entitled to payment if you’ve sustained a permanent injury.
If a third party, such as an equipment manufacturer or a subcontractor, caused the accident that injured you on the job, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against them. You may be compensated for pain and suffering. This third-party liability claim will be separate from your workers’ compensation claim.
What is an independent medical exam (IME)?
Under Minnesota law, if you suffer an injury while on the job, you “must submit to examination by the employer’s physician, if requested by the employer.” (MN Revisor Sec. 176.155) The purpose of the exam is to determine whether an injury is present, the extent of the injury and whether it was work related. Usually, employers request an independent medical exam because they want to determine whether you should continue to receive workers’ compensation benefits.
Because refusal to take part in an independent medical exam can result in the suspension of your workers’ compensation benefits, it’s considered a good idea to speak to a lawyer prior to the examination. A lawyer can make sure you understand all of your rights, including the right to have your own personal physician present at the exam, among others.
What is a qualified rehabilitation consultant?
A qualified rehabilitation consultant (QRC) is an individual who is registered with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) and provides vocational rehabilitation services to workers who have suffered injuries on the job and are off work as a result of their injuries. In short, a QRC assists an injured worker by facilitating medical care and making sure any job returned to is safely within your doctor’s restrictions.
Although your employer may pay for the services of a QRC, you do have the right to choose your own QRC counselor; just know that you have a specific time window in which to select one.
I want to receive treatment from my own doctor, not one chosen by my employer. Is that OK?
Under Minnesota law, the employee has the right to choose a treating medical provider. However, a physician will be deemed selected where an employee accepts a physician furnished by the employer. Often, courts allow the employee to change treating physicians, provided there is a reasonable basis for the request.
Your employer or their workers’ compensation insurer may first send you to a particular clinic for an initial evaluation and treatment. If your employer or their insurer participates in a managed care plan, you may be allowed to choose an additional doctor outside of their network. If the doctor is one with whom you had a relationship before being injured.
To get the most reliable answer to this type of question about your workers’ compensation case, consult with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney early in the process.
How does workers’ compensation cover lost wages if I work multiple jobs?
The good news is that the calculation of lost wages is based on your average weekly wage, which means if you work multiple jobs, they will be taken into consideration for the purposes of workers’ compensation benefits. There are several methods used to calculate an injured worker’s average weekly wage. Calculations will depend upon the type of work you perform. Many factors can be involved in calculating the average weekly wage. It’s important that it be calculated correctly as ongoing wage loss benefits are based on that value.
My injury was classified as a ‘Gillette’ injury. What does that mean?
A Gillette injury is specific to the Minnesota workers’ compensation system. It refers to a disabling injury that is caused by repetitive trauma. Often called a repetitive motion injury or repetitive stress injury in other states, a Gillette injury develops over a period of time and does not stem from a singular event. Unlike other states, Minnesota has caselaw to support workers’ compensation claims for Gillette injuries, which makes the process of seeking benefits for a repetitive stress injury slightly less difficult.
After my on-the-job injury, I am caught in a dispute with my employer, the workers’ compensation insurer or a medical provider. What can I do?
In cases where disputes arise, there are avenues to pursue resolution, including:
- Filing a medical request
- Filing a rehabilitation request
- Filing a request for a .239 conference when benefits have been discontinued
In some cases, mediation is also utilized to resolve those disputes. To explore your options, consult a workers’ compensation lawyer to discuss how an attorney can help you resolve disputes by filing the appropriate requests to avoid delays. Your case may be resolved through mediation.
Are there jurisdictional restrictions when applying for workers’ compensation in Minnesota?
Yes. While many workers’ compensation claims come from Minnesota workers who were injured while on the job in Minnesota, some workers may suffer injuries while performing work outside of the state. Others may be out-of-state workers who suffered injuries while on the job in Minnesota. If this is the case, jurisdiction may come into play.
Thankfully, in Minnesota, out-of-state workers who suffer any injury while on the job in our state and Minnesota workers who suffer an injury while working a job out-of-state are likely covered by the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Act. Workers who fall into either of these categories and who wish to receive workers’ compensation for their injuries must file an extraterritorial application per the rules of Minnesota Statutes, Sec. 176.041 (2). It’s important to understand that there are specific requirements that must be met in order to quality for this specific extraterritorial jurisdiction, so speaking to a lawyer ahead of time is always considered a good idea.
How are workers’ compensation attorneys paid?
We handle our workers’ compensation cases on a contingency fee basis. If we do not recover any compensation for you, you do not owe anything.
Our Minnesota Workers’ Comp Attorneys Work For You
We believe in empowering our clients. Our workers’ comp lawyers take the time to answer your questions, explain the workers’ compensation system, outline the benefits you are entitled to and advise on the expected progression of your claim. With workers’ compensation, there are many processes and procedures that need to be closely followed in order to achieve maximum compensation. Taking the wrong step can jeopardize your claim for compensation. That’s why it’s important to have an attorney fighting on your side to help you navigate each step of your claim.
We are working for you, so our meeting will be confidential and sensitive information will not be shared with your employer. In our first meeting, we will answer any questions you have about the future of your claim and your livelihood. If we take on your case, it will be on a contingency-fee-basis, which means you pay no money unless we recover a settlement for you. If your injuries result in a disability that prevents you from returning to work, we will also assist you with your Social Security Disability case.
Don’t wait. Consult A Minnesota Workers’ Comp Lawyer Today For Free.
Learn how we can lighten your load as you pursue all benefits you are eligible to receive. Get personalized answers to your questions after suffering a workplace injury anywhere in Minnesota.
Schedule your free, no obligation case review today. Don’t delay, call us at 952-209-9018 or 320-407-1671 or send us a message using our online inquiry form.