All employers are required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance or become self-insured, according to our Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Law. At 612-INJURED, our workers’ compensation attorneys understand that when our clients are hurt at work, their medical care needs and lost wages are confounded by the fact that it is their employer — the workplace and wages they have counted on for their livelihoods — being held accountable for these important resources.
We want to make it clear to all workplace injury victims: Your employer must carry workers’ compensation coverage, which means it is their insurance company that will be responsible for your recovery resources — not your employer directly.
That fact often helps that employees maintain their loyalty to their employer while seeking the care and support to which they are entitled. It also complicates the workers’ compensation process, as insurance companies are notorious for delaying, undervaluing, or outright denying claims. That is where we come in.
After a workplace injury occurs, it is a good idea to contact an experienced Minnesota workers’ compensation lawyer ,who will clear up the complicated process that lies ahead and help you assess your overall needs with our workers’ compensation calculator. Here is how the work comp process unfolds after a workplace injury occurs.
Filing a Minnesota Workers’ Comp Injury Report
After a workplace injury occurs, you must notify your supervisor that you have been hurt and fill out any internal paperwork necessary that outlines the incident and the resulting injuries if your injuries do not require emergency medical care. After the employer notifies the insurance company, your workman’s compensation claim is officially opened.
This is a good time to speak with our skilled workers’ compensation lawyers, as the insurance company is going to contact you for a statement on how your injuries occurred. The representative will use their knowledge and experience to elicit certain responses regarding the incident and your injuries that can potentially hurt your claim. This is how they justify denying claims.
Your Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Claim is Accepted or Denied
Now, that your workman’s compensation case is officially opened, the insurance company will conduct their preliminary investigation. That may include:
- Reviewing medical records
- Recorded statements from the employer
- Interviews with potential witnesses
Once the investigation is completed, the Notice of Primary Liability Determination will be filed. This form is the official acceptance or denial of your claim.
Does a Workers’ Compensation Coverage Acceptance End My Claim?
Here is where things get complicated. If your claim is accepted, that does not mean the insurance company is going to fully follow through on paying your medical bills, lost wages, and additional expenses.
Insurance companies will frequently admit claims initially and begin seeking ways to discontinue benefits or deny payment of treatment.
This is where an experienced workman’s compensation lawyer can help file a claim petition to pursue the coverage and resources to which you are entitled by law. We may do so by filing for an administrative conference with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. Your claim will then be considered in litigation.
Each worker comp claim we represent is unique and may require our attorneys to:
- Enter the discovery phase of your claim
- Schedule a deposition
- Seek an independent medical examination
- Negotiate our client’s needs during a settlement conference or proceed to a workers’ compensation hearing in court if we cannot fairly settle your claim outside the courtroom
If your claim has been denied and requires an appeal, our workers’ compensation attorneys will walk you through the legal process to ensure the paperwork is accurately completed and that each deadline is met without issue, so there are no further excuses for the insurance company to withhold the resources you to which you are entitled.
Contact Our Experienced Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Today for a Free Consultation
If you have been hurt at work, you may be entitled to full workers’ comp benefits that will allow you to pursue the medical care you need to fully heal, while taking the time away from work required to recover. This recovery process includes access to the necessary resources outlined by our Minnesota laws.
Call or text our skilled workers’ compensation attorneys at 612-INJURED today by calling (612) 465-8733 or contact us online to learn more about your legal rights and options to pursue the coverage you need to get back to work and return to the quality of life you enjoyed before the incident.
