A workplace injury can happen to any employee, at any time, in any line of work. Workplace injuries also often result in costly medical needs, missed time at work, and potentially life-long impacts on your life and your ability to work. If you were injured or taken ill as an Eagan employee, you may be entitled to financial benefits from a workers’ compensation claim.
Unfortunately, getting the benefits you deserve is not always as simple as it should be. Many workers have their claims unfairly minimized, delayed, or outright denied every year by tight-fisted employers or insurance companies. Working with a knowledgeable workers’ comp attorney can help you protect your rights as a worker and access the benefits you need to recover.
The Eagan workers’ comp lawyers of Robert Wilson & Associates can help you every step of the way as you seek compensation for a work-related injury or illness. Call us at (612) 334-3444 or contact us online today to learn more about your options in an initial consultation.
Am I Eligible for Workers’ Comp in Eagan?
Almost all employers in the state of Minnesota are required to provide workers’ compensation coverage on behalf of their employees, regardless of how many employees they have. This includes employees who are minors, part-time workers, and non-citizen workers. The only exceptions to this requirement include state and municipal government employees, executive officers and managers of small businesses, and certain relatives.
Employers may fulfill this legal requirement by either purchasing a workers’ comp insurance policy or by getting permission from the Minnesota Department of Commerce to be self-insured. You can visit this webpage to determine whether your employer carries workers’ comp insurance coverage.
If you are an eligible employee working for an employer who is required to provide workers’ comp coverage, you are entitled to no-fault benefits if you sustain a work-related injury or illness. This means you do not have to prove that anyone else was at fault for your condition, and you can even obtain benefits if you were at fault for the injury or illness yourself.
There are certain limitations that go along with your workers’ comp benefits, however. For example, you may not be entitled to benefits if you were intoxicated, engaging in horseplay, or otherwise breaking company policy when you were injured. Additionally, you typically give up your right to file a lawsuit against your employer in exchange for your workers’ compensation benefits.
What Types of Workers’ Comp Benefits Are Available?
Depending on the nature of your work-related injury or illness, you may be entitled to one or more of the following types of workers’ comp benefits:
- Medical benefits – These benefits cover the costs associated with any reasonable and necessary medical care you receive for your work-related injury or illness. This includes travel expenses you incur going to and from medical appointments.
- Temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits – If you are able to return to work but can only perform light-duty or modified work for less than your usual pay while you recover, you may be entitled to weekly TPD benefits. TPD benefits are typically two-thirds of the difference between the average weekly wage you earned before the accident and the average weekly wage you earn doing light-duty or modified work, up to the statewide weekly maximum of $1,256.64.
- Temporary total disability (TTD) benefits – If your doctor tells you that you are completely unable to return to work while you recover, you may be entitled to weekly TTD benefits. Since October 1, 2021, the minimum amount you can receive in weekly TTD benefits is $251.33 or 20 percent of your average pre-injury weekly wages, whichever is less. And as with TPD benefits, the weekly maximum is $1,256.64.
- Permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits – If you are permanently disabled as a result of a work-related injury or illness but still able to perform light-duty or modified work for less than your usual pay, you may be entitled to PPD benefits. The amount you can receive in PPD benefits is typically calculated based on a disability rating you receive from your doctor, up to the weekly maximum of $1,256.64.
- Permanent total disability (PTD) benefits – If you are permanently disabled and no longer able to perform any type of work at any job, you may be entitled to PTD benefits for life. The amount you can receive in PTD benefits is typically up to two-thirds of the average weekly wage you earned before the accident, up to the weekly maximum of $1,256.64.
- Death benefits – If you die as the result of a work-related injury or illness, your surviving dependents may be entitled to weekly death benefits. Your employer or their insurer may also be responsible for providing your dependents with up to $15,000 in funeral expenses.
How Can Robert Wilson & Associates Help Me?
At Robert Wilson & Associates, our trusted attorneys have more than 25 years of experience helping injured Eagan workers secure the benefits they deserve. We understand that fair workers’ comp benefits allow our clients to obtain the medical care they need and avoid the financial strain of lost wages.
When your health and your livelihood are on the line, you need results. We know the stakes are high, which is why we will do everything we can to maximize your compensation. If your employer or their insurance company attempts to minimize or deny your claim, we’ll fight aggressively on your behalf, no matter what it takes.
Contact an Eagan Workers’ Comp Attorney Today
The dedicated lawyers of Robert Wilson & Associates have the knowledge and resources needed to handle any workers’ comp claim, no matter how complex. If you were injured on the job in Eagan, call us at (612) 334-3444 or contact us online to learn more about your rights in your initial case review.