If you’ve been hurt at work, the last thing you should have to worry about is a stack of medical bills sitting on your kitchen table. You’re already dealing with pain, missed time from work, and the stress of not knowing what comes next. Fortunately, the Minnesota workers’ compensation system is designed to protect injured workers in this situation. A skilled work comp attorney is very helpful at every stage of the claim process.
Employer’s Workers’ Compensation Coverage Helps You
Minnesota has a no-fault workers’ compensation system, meaning injured employees are entitled to medical benefits and partial wage loss replacement without proving their employer was negligent or at fault for causing the work accident. The law entitles injured employees to reasonable and necessary medical treatment and supplies to cure or relieve the effects of a work injury. The work comp insurance carrier for the employer has to pay for it.
Unfortunately, injured workers often have to fight with the insurer to get the treatment they need. This is where Meshbesher Law Firm can step in. Our experienced workers’ compensation lawyers help employees who are injured on the job in the Twin Cities metro area and throughout the entire state. Contact us if you were hurt at work, and we will help you get the work comp benefits you deserve.
Health providers generally should not bill employees unless a treatment is not related to the work injury or illness. If you’re receiving bills directly, seek legal help.
Steps to Take After a Work-Related Accident or Injury
Under state law, you should report a work injury to your employer within 14 days to avoid late-notice issues, but it is best to get the process started on the same day as the injury or accident if possible. Failure to report your injury in a timely fashion may result in a denial or reduction of workers’ compensation benefits. Reporting promptly also helps establish a clear connection between your injury and your work, which can make the entire claims process smoother.
Employees are protected from employer retaliation based on their filing for workers’ compensation benefits. Minnesota law is on your side on this point.
What If Your Employer Doesn’t Carry Workers’ Compensation Insurance?
If you’ve discovered that your employer may not have proper coverage, don’t give up hope. Employers are required to carry work comp insurance. If your employer is not fulfilling its legal obligation to provide workers’ compensation insurance, you may still be protected if you get hurt on the job.
Under state law, insurers and self-insured employers contribute to a Special Compensation Fund. If you are injured while working for an uninsured employer, this Special Compensation Fund may pay the work comp benefits you are owed, such as lost wages or medical bills.
Sometimes Another Party Shares Responsibility for Your Injury
In some cases, someone other than your employer might be responsible for your injury, and in those instances, you can file a third-party claim for liability. Workers’ compensation covers your medical bills and a portion of lost wages, but it doesn’t provide compensation for pain and suffering. A third-party/personal injury claim may be possible in certain situations.
These third-party claims can arise when a third party who is not your employer negligently causes your injuries. One common example is a motor vehicle accident that occurs while you are performing your job duties.
Third-party liability claims for work injuries sometimes arise on construction sites, where multiple companies and contractors are working at the job site, often with heavy equipment and machinery. In such a situation, a non-employer third party may have negligently caused your work injury.
Equipment failures are another avenue worth exploring. If a piece of defective machinery or unsafe equipment caused the workplace accident, the manufacturer or distributor may be sued as a third-party defendant for product liability.
Filing a third-party claim does not mean giving up your workers’ compensation benefits. You can and should pursue both workers’ comp and a personal injury claim against the negligent third party, which allows you to receive workers’ comp benefits while also holding the at-fault party fully accountable.
Note that if your third-party claim succeeds, the workers’ comp insurer can place a lien against your recovery to reimburse it for the benefits paid to you. However, your attorney can sometimes negotiate to reduce the lien amount and maximize your total recovery. This is exactly the kind of detail that can make a meaningful difference in what you actually take home, and it’s one of the reasons having legal guidance matters.
If Your Workers’ Comp Claim Is Denied or Benefits Are Stopped
A denial is not the end of the road. Workers’ compensation insurance companies and employers deny medical treatment or wage loss benefits for a variety of reasons, but it doesn’t mean they have a legal right to do so. There are ways to fight back. Don’t just give up and leave money on the table; instead, contact the Meshbesher Law Firm and learn about your rights.
Contact Meshbesher Law Firm for Help with Your Claim
The work comp system is complicated, and insurance companies have teams of people working to limit what they pay out. You deserve someone who is focused entirely on your recovery and your rights.
At Meshbesher Law Firm, we serve injured workers throughout the Minneapolis metro, including Hennepin, Ramsey, Anoka, and Dakota counties, as well as the entire state of Minnesota. If you’re unsure who is responsible for your medical bills, or if your claim has been denied, we’re here to help you find clarity. Your recovery matters, and so does getting the compensation you may be entitled to. Contact us today to talk with a lawyer for free.
