It is always beneficial to hire a workers’ comp lawyer if you are injured at work and plan to file a claim. But many are hesitant to do so because of the cost of hiring an attorney.
In general, workers’ compensation attorney’s fees are done on a contingent basis. In other words, you don’t have to pay an attorney any upfront costs. Under the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Act, your attorney is not entitled to any fees unless they successfully settle a dispute. Even when an attorney resolves a claim and wins benefits, there are still limitations on what an attorney can be awarded. The following are a few examples of these limitations:
- For wage (indemnity) benefits, attorney fees are limited by statute. Fees are 25% of the first $4,000, and 20% of the next $60,000 obtained.
- For medical benefits, attorney fees are paid solely by the insurance company. The injured worker does not lose any benefits (including money) if the attorney wins medical benefits in the dispute.
- For rehabilitation benefits, attorney fees are also only paid by the insurance company. Similarly, the injured worker does not lose any benefits or money if the lawyer wins rehabilitation benefits.
Approaching a workers’ comp dispute can be overwhelming. A workers’ comp lawyer can help guide you through the process. And rest assured, you won’t need to worry about paying out of pocket when retaining a workers’ compensation attorney.
