Our job at Hey Workers is to ensure that injured workers swiftly get the compensation they deserve after suffering a work-related injury. Many clients appreciate that we pressure the insurance company into moving their case through the system, but others are completely fine taking their time and slowly proceeding with their claim. You have a fair amount of time to formally file your workers’ compensation claim in Minnesota, but there are some deadlines you’ll want to be aware of. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at how long you are legally allowed to wait before moving forward with a workers’ compensation claim in Minnesota.
Injury Compensation Statute Of Limitations In Minnesota
We’ll get to the answer in just a little bit, but before we tell you how much time you have to file a workers’ compensation claim, we want to explain why it’s oftentimes a bad idea to wait to file a claim. We understand that it’s possible that you could be incapacitated, undergoing multiple surgeries or dealing with the devastating fallout of a major work injury, but waiting to file a claim can make it much harder for you to get the benefits you deserve.
The longer you wait to file your claim, the more likely it is that:
- Evidence is lost
- Witness testimony changes or memories fade
- Your ability to remember specifics about the incident declines
- The insurance company begins to suspect that your injuries may have occurred outside of work
- The case takes longer to conclude, as more investigation is required
We know that you’re facing physical and emotional stress after a work injury, which is why one of the best things you can do should you find yourself in this position is to contact a workers’ compensation firm. This allows you to focus solely on your health and your family while we do all the evidence collection and claim development. Know that you’re never going to run into a situation where evidence is lost or your claim is deemed invalid because you did not meet the deadline to file if you allow a workers’ compensation team to handle this burden for you.
Now let’s get back to the question at hand. How long do you have to file a workers’ compensation claim in Minnesota? As noted in this informational piece from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry:
“Your Claim Petition must be filed within three years of when the First Report of Injury was filed with the department or within six years of the date of injury if no report was filed with the department. Otherwise, the law will probably not allow your claim because of the statute of limitations”
You may have three years to file after you first report the injury to management, but waiting that long certainly won’t make it easier for you to win your case. Just because you have all this time, doesn’t mean you should put off filing your claim. We’d be more than happy to assist with this process or completely take it off your plate so that you can get the financial compensation you so rightfully deserve.
For more information about deadlines, paperwork or the process of filing a workers’ compensation claim in Minnesota, reach out to the team at Hey Workers today at (844) 439-9675.
