Under the Workers’ Compensation Law in Minnesota, you need to report a workplace injury to your employer within six months from the time the injury occurred. Once this report is made, the employer must file a first report of injury. Even if an employer does not have workers’ compensation insurance, they are obligated to follow up in this way.
Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim
To further the process, you need to contact a personal injury law attorney in Minneapolis, MN to file a workers’ compensation claim. This should be done within three years from the time that your employer filed a first report of injury. If you do not file your claim under these guidelines, you will lose your right to claim benefits.
Some employees worry about filing a workers’ compensation claim, believing that they will be fired. However, you will find if you work with a personal injury law attorney that you are exerting your rights in this respect and cannot be fired. The law prohibits employers from threatening to fire an employee or discharging him or her for making a claim. If an employer is found guilty of this behavior, they are subject to stiff financial penalties.
Disputing a Decision
If your workers’ compensation claim is denied, you will find it easier to work with a personal injury law attorney to dispute the decision. In this case, the attorney will file a petition for benefits. This process normally lasts up to two months, depending on the availability of supporting documentation. Click here for more details about the professional personal injury law attorney in Minneapolis, MN.
Once a petition is filed, it takes up to a year to obtain a hearing. The hearing is heard by a compensation judge whose decision may be appealed to the court of appeals. If this happens, the process may take another eight months. If the dispute still continues, it can go all the way to the state Supreme Court.
Where to Learn More about the Claims Process
Naturally, each case is different. If you have financial difficulties, a hearing may be speeded up to resolve the claim earlier. To learn more about workplace injuries and claims, refer to such websites as for further details.
