After a work injury in Minnesota, what you do in the days that follow can have a major impact on your future. Whether you slipped on a wet floor or strained your back lifting heavy equipment, the steps you take early on directly affect your ability to receive the workers’ compensation benefits you are entitled to. This guide walks you through five essential steps to protect your health and your claim. Contact a workers’ compensation attorney in Minneapolis if you have questions about your next steps.
If you have been hurt on the job, seek medical attention as soon as possible. When you see your doctor, be clear about how the injury happened and explain why you believe it is connected to your work. Provide your employer’s name and, if you have it, the name of their workers’ compensation insurer. This information helps your physician create accurate medical records, which will play an important role in supporting your workers’ comp claim down the road.
Once you have addressed your immediate medical needs, notify your employer about the injury as quickly as you can. In Minnesota, you have 14 days to report a work injury, and waiting too long could put your entire claim at risk. To protect yourself, put the notification in writing and send it via certified mail with a return receipt requested. This creates a clear paper trail showing exactly when your employer was informed.
After receiving notice of your injury, your employer is responsible for filing a First Report of Injury form. It is perfectly reasonable to check in and confirm that this step has been completed—just be polite and professional when doing so. Once the form is filed, the workers’ compensation insurer will review your claim and send you a Notice of Insurer’s Primary Liability Determination, which will either accept or deny your benefits. If your employer refuses to file the necessary paperwork, that is a major red flag, and it may be time to speak with a Minnesota workers’ compensation attorney.
Your workers’ compensation claim should be supported by strong evidence. Hold on to copies of your medical records, bills, prescriptions, and any correspondence with your employer or their insurer. If there were witnesses to your injury, write down their names and contact information.
Save photos of the accident scene or your injuries if possible, and keep a personal journal noting your symptoms, limitations, and how the injury affects your daily life. The more evidence you preserve now, the stronger your position will be if any disputes arise later.
Even when you do everything right, challenges can still arise during the workers’ compensation process. Employers may dispute the severity of your injury, insurers may delay or deny your claim, and paperwork errors can create unexpected setbacks. You should contact an attorney right away to ensure your rights are protected from the very start.
A Minnesota workers’ compensation attorney can guide you through each stage of the process, handle communication with insurers, and fight for the full benefits you deserve. Contact a lawyer from KSK Law right away to get the support you need and take the next step toward securing the benefits you are owed.
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