Individuals who suffer injuries at work and need to take time off to recuperate may find it challenging to continue to support themselves and their families. Fortunately, you may be entitled to workers’ comp benefits. Here, you may be able to obtain a portion of your lost wages that could help you get through these difficult times.
For help getting your Minneapolis workers’ comp claim for lost wages approved, reach out to an experienced attorney at Kemmitt, Sanford & Kramer. You can reach us at (877) 630-7338 when you are ready to schedule your free consultation.
One of the biggest decisions you can make after a work injury is selecting the right attorney to take on your case. Some of the reasons why Kemmitt, Sanford & Kramer is the only choice for your family include:
Find out more about how our Minneapolis workers’ comp lawyers could help you recover lost wages when you contact us for a no-cost claim assessment.
After you have suffered critical injuries in a work accident, there are specific benefits that you are entitled to. Part of these benefits include your disability benefits. These are meant to replace a portion of the income that you will lose by being unable to work while you recuperate from your on-the-job injury.
Depending on whether you suffered a temporary partial disability, a temporary total disability, a permanent partial disability, or a permanent total disability, you can expect to collect approximately 66 percent of your average weekly wages. For the most part, you can expect to be able to collect benefits until you have recovered from your injuries and are able to return to work. But the type of injury that you sustained can have a dramatic impact on how long you are allowed to collect your disability benefits.
Furthermore, the remaining thirty-three percent of your lost wages will not be covered by your employer’s workers’ comp insurance provider. In some situations, you may be able to pursue a personal injury claim against a third party who is responsible for causing your injuries. You can explore your legal options further with your workers’ comp attorney.
You are entitled to a certain amount of disability benefits, depending on the nature and extent of your injury and your ability to work. Minnesota has detailed rules on the value of these benefits, so it is important to be aware of how much compensation you can claim.
Your lost wages lawyer from Kemmitt, Sanford & Kramer can help you calculate the full value of your potential award and recover the lost wages that you deserve.
Temporary partial disability is available to injured workers who are able to work, but are earning less because of their injuries. You may need to take reduced hours or another position to accommodate for your injuries.
The value of temporary partial disability benefits is two-thirds of the difference between the wages you earned before your injury, and the wages that you earned after. These benefits will end once you have received payments for 250 weeks or when it has been 450 weeks since your injury, whichever date is earlier.
If you are unable to work at all while you are recovering from your injury, you could recover temporary total disability benefits. You can recover up to two-thirds of the average weekly wages that you earned before your injury.
The state of Minnesota enforces a limit on the maximum value of these benefits, which changes every year. For example, if you are injured between October 1st, 2021 and October 1st, 2022, you can recover up to $1,256.64 per week.
Temporary total disability benefits will end when you are able to return to work, when you reach the maximum time allowed for these benefits, or 90 days from the date that you reached maximum medical improvement (MMI).
Once you reach MMI, your doctor will assess your injury and provide you with an impairment rating based on any lasting disabilities. If you are partially disabled, this rating will be expressed as a percentage and will determine the value of your permanent partial disability benefits.
Minnesota calculates the value of permanent partial disability benefits by multiplying the impairment rating by a certain dollar amount. This dollar value is determined using a compensation schedule, which is set by state law.
For example, say that you have a 35% impairment rating. According to state law, this number will be multiplied by $115,500. As a result, the full value of your permanent partial disability benefits would be $40,425.
You can request these benefits in a lump sum or have the state pay them in installments.
If your workplace injury has left you with a complete and total disability, you could recover permanent total disability benefits. You are entitled to receive this compensation for as long as you are disabled.
Injuries that qualify for permanent total disability benefits include the following:
The value of these benefits is the same as temporary total disability: two-thirds of your pre-injury wages up to an amount established by state law. If you receive more than $25,000 in permanent total disability, the state may reduce your award to compensate for the government benefits that you may receive.
When you have suffered an on-the-job injury and you are unable to earn a living, the ability to obtain lost wages from your workers’ comp benefits is critical. Get help accessing the benefits that you deserve when you contact a reputable Minneapolis workers’ compensation lawyer at Kemmitt, Sanford & Kramer.
To find out more about how we could help you get your claim approved, schedule a no-cost, risk-free consultation. You can complete our online contact form or give our office a call at (877) 630-7338 to get started.
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