If you have sustained an injury while on duty, it is important to contact an experienced Minnesota workers’ compensation attorney right away. The longer you wait, the more difficult it may be to successfully establish a claim. Here are 5 important steps to follow when filing a claim to ensure you take advantage of the benefits you are entitled to under the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Act:
(1) Talk to an experienced workers’ compensation attorney before you do a recorded statement or proceed any further in the workers’ compensation process.
Sometimes employers will tell employees that lawyers are “expensive” or say something else to discourage the injured officer from obtaining legal advice. This behavior is against the law! Intentionally obstructing an employee from seeking workers’ compensation benefits is not permitted under Minnesota Statute §176.82, subdivision 1. Employees can bring a civil claim for damages against his or her employer.
Work comp attorneys in Minnesota are not paid unless there is a dispute. Work comp attorneys are all paid the same in Minnesota and the pay is set by statute. Also, Minnesota work comp attorneys do not require a retainer.
An attorney is able to handle all aspects of the claim process, such as: