Washington County Workers Compensation Lawyer

Injured on the job? You may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits that pay your medical bills, offset a large share of any income you’ve lost because you can’t work like before, and help you prepare for a career change if lingering disabilities leave you unable to continue in your old job. However, the workers’ comp system is confusing and bureaucratic, and one wrong move could make it difficult to access the benefits that should be yours by right. A workers compensation lawye lawyer at Baehman Fitzgerald can help you understand your rights and navigate the complexities.

Workers across Woodbury, Cottage Grove, Stillwater, Forest Lake, Oakdale, and surrounding Washington County communities face unique challenges when trying to secure workers’ compensation benefits after a workplace injury. Whether your claim involves manufacturing work, healthcare employment, warehouse labor, or construction jobs common throughout the county, local experience matters.

The team at Baehman Fitzgerald can help. We have more years of combined workers’ compensation experience than any other law firm in the area, and we’re prepared to do whatever is possible to get the workers’ comp benefits you need. Contact our offices now for your free consultation with a workers’ compensation lawyer in Washington County, and let’s get started right away.

What Work Injuries Are Most Common in Washington County?

Woodbury is home to a wide range of industries, including businesses in healthcare, education, manufacturing, technology, retail, and finance. Employees in any of these fields can get injured on the job, whether in an office or on a construction site. Work-related injuries that can result in a workers’ comp claim in Woodbury and elsewhere in Washington County include:

Traumatic brain injuries from falls
Crushing injuries from caught-by/between accidents
Spinal cord injuries from manufacturing accidents or car crashes
Shoulder or knee injuries from repetitive motions or twisting motions
Carpal tunnel syndrome from repetitive use of jackhammers or other vibratory tools
Back injuries from lifting
Sprains and strains from shifting patients or moving heavy loads
Broken bones from forklift accidents

If you’ve suffered any of these injuries or other like them while on the job, reach out to our law firm for help right away.

How Does Workers' Compensation Work in Washington County?

Minnesota’s workers’ compensation system is established and governed by state law. Injured workers have access to medical benefits and partial wage replacement without having to prove that someone else caused their injuries. In exchange for this easy access, workers are prohibited from suing their employer for their injuries.

All employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance for their employees under Minnesota law. Employees are covered by workers’ compensation, and even volunteer workers may be covered in some situations. Farmers and family members who exchange work with others in their farming community are not covered, nor are independent contractors.

If you’re not certain about your status as an employee and whether you are entitled to benefits, you should talk with a workers’ compensation attorney in Washington County immediately.

What Does Workers' Compensation Cover in Minnesota?

Depending on your injury, Minnesota workers’ compensation benefits may include:

Reasonable and necessary medical treatment for your injury
Partial wage replacement if your injury keeps you off work
Money for permanent damage to your body
Vocational rehabilitation if you can’t return to your pre-injury job
Mileage for trips to get medical treatment or for some vocational rehabilitation activities
Death benefits for your dependents if you die due to a work injury

Although you are not legally required to hire an attorney to handle your workers’ compensation claim, having a Minnesota work injury lawyer in Washington County can remove the stress and work of applying for benefits on your own. Not only can a good law firm improve your chances of approval, but it can also appeal a denial more effectively.

The Workers' Compensation Claims Process in Washington County

In Washington County and elsewhere in Minnesota, the state-wide rules set by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) for the Minnesota workers’ compensation system apply. The process should include these steps:

You have 14 days to report the injury to your employer and be considered “on time.” Your employer can’t deny your claim based on late notice if you file within this window. If you don’t give notice within 180 days of your injury, you won’t be entitled to any benefits except in certain circumstances.
Get medical treatment. If your employer participates in a managed care plan, after your emergency treatment, you must receive care from one of the providers on your employer’s list.
Your employer must send a First Report of Injury form to their insurer within 10 days of your report.
The insurer will review your claim and either accept or deny it. If accepted, benefits should begin. If the insurer denies your claim, you can appeal their decision.
If your claim is denied, the insurer will send a Notice of Insurer’s Primary Liability Determination form. This form will say why the claim was denied.
You can file an Employee’s Claim Petition at the Court of Administrative Hearings so a Workers’ Compensation Judge can preside over a hearing. They will listen to evidence and testimony from the insurance company’s lawyer and you. They’ll determine whether you are entitled to benefits.

A lawyer is especially helpful in the event your workers compensation claim is denied and you need to request a hearing. The insurance company will have attorneys of its own, and you shouldn’t be unrepresented.

Why Are Workers’ Compensation Claims Frequently Denied in Washington County?

A workers’ compensation claim can be denied for any number of reasons. Some of the most common ones include:

The employer or insurer doesn’t believe the injury occurred at work.
The worker didn’t report the injury promptly.
The employee missed the filing deadline.
The employee has a pre-existing condition that the insurer believes is the cause of the current condition.
Insufficient medical evidence shows that the injury was work-related.
The employee isn’t eligible for workers’ compensation benefits because they’re an independent contractor.
The insurer rejected the claim because of procedural or documentation errors.

If you’ve received a denied workers compensation claim, an attorney from the law firm of Baehman Fitzgerald can handle your case and fight for the benefits you’re entitled to.

Where Are Workers’ Compensation Hearings Handled for Washington County Workers?

Washington County workers’ compensation hearings are held at the Washington County Courthouse, 14949 62nd Street North, Stillwater, MN. The Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings (CAH) Workers’ Compensation Division also conducts hearings via video conferencing technology in some cases. You can request a video conference if you are unable to travel.

Get Help with Your Workers' Compensation Claim from Baehman Fitzgerald

If you’ve been injured on the job in Washington County, you need help. While you could try to file your workers’ compensation claim yourself, you should be focused on healing your injuries, not on figuring out the legal system. Let the workers’ comp lawyers of Baehman Fitzgerald pursue your case for you.

Our law firm has been helping people in positions like yours for 30 years now, and we’d like to put our skills to work for you, too. When you call our office, you’ll talk to an actual person. You’re not just a number at our firm; we’ll take the time to get to know you and understand what you’re going through. The attorney you initially speak with will handle your case. We won’t just pass you off to assistants and paralegals.

Don’t wait. Contact Baehman Fitzgerald today for a free consultation about your case.

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