The workers’ compensation system in Minnesota is nothing if not complex, and even if you have a surface-level understanding of the system, there’s plenty of helpful information that can slip through the cracks. Thankfully, we fancy ourselves experts on all things personal injury and workers’ compensation law. So today, we wanted to share five helpful things you may not have known about the workers’ compensation system so that you can get all the benefits you deserve in the wake of a work injury.
Did You Know These Five Things About Minnesota’s Workers’ Compensation Program?
Here’s a look at five little-known aspects of the workers’ compensation program here in Minnesota that could stand to benefit you if you’re unfortunately injured in a work accident:
1. It’s Not Just For Physical Injuries – When we think of workers’ compensation, we typically picture a physical injury, like a broken bone or an open wound. However, these aren’t the only compensable injuries. Mental injuries that arise from a physical or mental stimulus can also be eligible for workers’ compensation. Not all mental conditions will qualify for workers’ compensation, but for larger conditions like PTSD caused by an on-the-job incident, you can now collect workers’ compensation in Minnesota for your mental injuries and treatment.
2. You Can’t Get In Trouble For Filing A Claim – Sometimes we hear stories from clients about how their employer was hoping that they weren’t going to file a claim. Employers can get in a lot of trouble for pressuring employees into not filing or taking retaliatory action against an employee who files for workers’ compensation. If they do, you may have another lawsuit on your hands. Don’t let fear of repercussions stop you from filing for workers’ compensation, because it’s actually illegal for your employer to punish or threaten punishment for filing for workers’ compensation.
3. You Can Collect Compensation Even If You Causes Your Own Injuries – Unlike personal injury law, workers’ compensation isn’t based on who is at fault for the injuries. If you were the biggest factor in suffering an injury, it doesn’t matter, you can still collect workers’ compensation. However, that doesn’t mean that you can intentionally cause your injuries. If you intentionally hurt yourself at work in order to collect payment, your claim will be denied, and you could even face criminal charges for attempted fraud.
4. Work Comp Doesn’t Just Cover Lost Wages And Medical Expenses – Workers’ compensation provides monetary compensation and reimbursement for a number of other expenses outside of the obvious medical costs and lost wages. You can also get compensation for things like travel expenses to medical appointments, property that was damaged during the accident, (like broken eyeglasses, dentures, hearing aids or walking devices like a cane or crutches), funeral expenses, retraining expenses and even expenses to help you go back to school so that you can pursue a different career if you can no longer work in the same capacity because of your injuries!
5. It’s Not Just For Full-Time Adult Workers – Finally, workers’ compensation protections aren’t just granted to adult workers in a full-time role. Minors, part-time workers and even undocumented immigrants are eligible for workers’ compensation in Minnesota so long as they receive a paycheck, have taxes withheld and were injured during the scope of their employment. Don’t let your employer tell you that you’re ineligible for workers’ compensation benefits because you’re a minor or not a full-time worker. Connect with a workers’ compensation lawyer and see what they have to say about the matter.
For more information, or for help with your workers’ compensation case, reach out to the talented team of experts at Hey Workers today.
