Minnesota Office Workers’ Injuries

A doctor touching a person's wrist during an exam. Representing Injured Office Workers in Minnesota

Office workers in Minnesota often deal with repetitive stress injuries and slip-and-fall accidents, which are common types of Minnesota office workers’ injuries. If you or someone you know has been injured while working in an office, it’s important to act quickly.

Contact Atkinson Gerber at 651-333-3636 for a free consultation. Our experienced workers’ compensation attorneys are committed to helping you get the benefits you deserve, so you can recover smoothly and return to your daily routine.

Common Office Injuries in Minnesota

In Minnesota, office workers frequently experience injuries such as repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) and slip and fall accidents.

RSIs, like carpal tunnel syndrome, occur from repeated motions, which can lead to long-term health problems.

Slip and fall accidents can cause severe injuries, such as broken bones, requiring lengthy recovery times. Both types of injuries can significantly impact productivity and well-being.

Office work often involves sitting for long periods, awkward postures, and repetitive tasks, contributing to workplace injuries.

What Qualifies as a Workplace Injury in an Office Setting?

In an office, a workplace injury includes any harm you suffer because of your job. This can be physical injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome or injuries from slipping and falling.

Mental health issues, like stress or anxiety caused by work, can also be considered workplace injuries if they are directly related to your job.

Minnesota’s workers’ compensation system helps cover these injuries by providing medical care, wage replacement, and other support. It’s important to report any work-related injuries right away and get medical help to make sure you can receive these benefits.

Importance of Immediate Medical Treatment

Getting medical help right away can help to prevent your injury from getting worse and recover faster. It’s important to tell your doctor that your injury is work-related during your first visit. Acting quickly not only helps your health but also strengthens your workers’ compensation claim.

If you delay getting medical treatment or don’t report your work injury in Minnesota, you might lose your right to workers’ compensation benefits.

Medical records are key in supporting your claim, showing proof of your injury and the treatments needed. You can choose your own doctor, but this might be limited if you’re in a managed care plan or under a collective bargaining agreement.

Steps to Report an Office Injury in Minnesota

Reporting a workplace injury in Minnesota involves several important steps to make sure you get the workers’ compensation benefits you need. Here’s a simple guide to help you through the process:

Report the Injury Right Away: Tell your employer as soon as the injury happens. Reporting quickly is essential to start your work-related injury claim.
Fill Out the First Report of Injury (FROI) Form: Your employer must complete this form to officially record the workplace injury and begin the workers’ compensation process.
Contact and attorney: We will talk to you at any point in your claim, the sooner the better, regardless of whether you need to retain us.
Stick to Reporting Deadlines: Make sure to report your injury within 180 days to avoid any issues. Reporting within the first 14 days is especially important to prevent your employer from denying the claim.
Give Detailed Information: When you report the injury, include all the details like the type of injury and any immediate medical treatment you received. This information helps build a strong case for your claim.
Contact the Insurer if Needed: If your employer doesn’t report your injury, you can contact the insurance company directly. Acting quickly can greatly affect the outcome of your workers’ compensation claim.

Legal Protections for Injured Office Workers

In Minnesota, there are laws to protect office workers who get hurt on the job. It’s illegal for employers to punish workers for reporting injuries or for seeking workers’ compensation benefits. The Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Act requires employers to have insurance and shields employees from any unfair treatment.

If an employer fires or discriminates against a worker for filing a claim.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Office Workers

Minnesota’s workers’ compensation system provides benefits without needing to prove the employer was at fault. These benefits include wage loss, medical care, and help with getting back to work. Each type of benefit helps with different parts of recovery and financial security for injured workers in Minnesota.

Wage Loss Benefits

Wage loss benefits are vital for keeping your finances stable while you recover. There are different types of disability benefits, including temporary total disability (TTD) and temporary partial disability (TPD), as well as permanent total disability (PTD) and permanent partial disability (PPD). TTD benefits provide two-thirds of your average weekly wage for up to 130 weeks, offering essential support during your recovery.

TPD benefits cover the gap between what you earned before the injury and what you earn after, for up to 225 weeks. PPD benefits are for the percentage of body loss.

Medical Benefits

Medical benefits in Minnesota’s workers’ compensation system cover many medical treatments, such as surgeries, hospital visits, chiropractic care, psychological help, and podiatry. You can choose your own doctor, although this might be limited by certain plans or agreements.

Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits

Vocational rehabilitation benefits help injured workers find new jobs or return to their old ones. These programs offer job retraining, educational courses, and job placement services to make transitioning back into work easier.

If your injury stops you from going back to your old job, these benefits can support you in adapting and finding suitable work.

Avoiding Common Mistakes in Workers’ Compensation Claims

Avoiding mistakes in a workers’ comp claim can greatly affect its success.

Consult an Experienced Workers’ Compensation Lawyer: Seek advice from a knowledgeable attorney to guide you through the process and avoid common errors.
Report Workplace Injuries Promptly: Do not delay in reporting your injury, as this can lead to a denied claim.
Avoid Solely Relying on Employer’s Advice: While your employer can be a resource, ensure you also seek independent legal counsel.
Follow Your Doctor’s Recommendations: Adhere to medical advice for accurate diagnosis and treatment, ensuring your claim is supported by complete medical documentation.

Contact Atkinson Gerber for a Free Consultation

Atkinson Gerber is focused on workers’ compensation law and is dedicated to helping injured office workers in Minnesota get the compensation they deserve.

Our team of experienced workers’ compensation attorneys has over 50 years of combined experience, making us well-prepared to handle a variety of workplace injury cases, including repetitive stress injuries, slip-and-fall accidents, and other common office injuries.

We know Minnesota’s workers’ compensation system can be complex, and we’re committed to helping injured office workers receive their workers’ compensation benefits. Our legal services include helping with the filing of workers’ compensation claims, guiding clients through the legal process, and providing strong representation in disputes or appeals. We gather all necessary documents and evidence to build a strong case, aiming to secure compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages from your workplace injury.

Atkinson Gerber ensures each client gets personalized attention and guidance tailored to their situation. We know insurance companies may not always act in your best interest, so getting legal advice early is important. Our attorneys are ready to fight for you, even going to court if needed, to get you the full and fair benefits you deserve.

Don’t let a workplace injury stress you out. Contact Atkinson Gerber today for a free consultation and let us help you on the road to recovery and financial stability. Call us at 651-333-3636 to take the first step toward getting the compensation you need.

Additional Resources

Your aggressive handling of this work comp case was first rate. I’ve worked with other attorneys in the past but appreciated the personal attention you provided me in this matter. Thank you!

- Cathy M.

Finally, I found the attorney that works for the injured worker, after two previous attorneys’ work for us seemed inadequate. Tom and his staff have the commitment to take it to trial if necessary rather than the other attorneys’ inertia and reluctance to do so. He has the integrity that you rarely find in the work comp arena anymore. Your involvement in my case resulted in returning us to some sense of dignity in this battle. I thought that with the multiple near-fatal catastrophic injuries I sustained that the opposing side would do the right thing. Don’t deceive yourself with this notion. You must have the right attorney by your side. With all the overwhelming tasks to complete while recovering, I thought I needed an attorney that was located near me. Again, I was wrong as they accommodated us however we needed it. Please don’t choose a work comp attorney based on location no matter how tempting that may be. Tom and staff thank you for making us believe in justice again.

- Scott H.

I just want to say a big “thank you” for representing me in my Social Security case. Without your help, I know that I would not have been successful. I am very fortunate that you represented me because you have the experience and knowledge that obtained the favorable ruling

- Dana D.

I received my settlement check this weekend and I want to thank you and all of your staff for taking on this case and pursuing it to a positive conclusion. These proceedings were not without their share of frustration but I always felt confident in my representation and your efforts to best represent me. I don’t believe I could do what you do- I would be too tempted to reach across the table and strangle the opposing counsel. I am very pleased with the outcome and am glad it is over.

- Gary S.

Tom and Marci were a tremendous help in that you made it so easy for someone like me who was stressed out about it all, especially with all the little things. I would have had a hard time relaxing enough to deal with everything effectively if you had not been so helpful. I also thought that Tom was very effective in the courtroom and had the facts of my case organized well and was informed so that he could tell where the judge wanted to go with his questions and was able to present the facts in a way that helped my case be viewed favorably by the judge. I was very pleased with the results. Thank you.

- Dan N.

You kicked butt. I am so happy with my results and I couldn’t have done it without you

- Teresa H.

Listen up every employee who has suffered a work comp injury in this state! If you think you don’t need a lawyer because everything is going fine, the adjuster is nice, and the QRC they assigned you seems to have your interest at heart; you are WRONG! The longer you wait to hire a lawyer the more disadvantaged you become. Tom Atkinson and his staff are aggressive and experienced workers’ compensation experts. Tom got me more than I ever thought I would get and NEVER charged a fee until he obtained benefits on my behalf. Thank you Tom, Marci, Gene and Cassie; I couldn’t have done it without you on my side.

- Thomas Hoaby

Thank you so much for your time and expertise today. I’m so proud to have you as my lawyer as you are absolutely wonderful at your job… Not to mention hilarious:) Whatever the outcome of today, I truly appreciate all you have done for me.

- Stacey B.

The day I met Tom, was the day I knew I would get all I needed from the Work Comp. company. For me, it was never about getting a big settlement. I only wanted what my doctor was recommending. Tom supported my decision not to settle, and took it all the way to a hearing to get me what I needed. It seems as though every step of the way has been a battle, but never once have I had any doubts in his ability to succeed. In the end, I got the surgery I needed and Tom still ended up getting me a bigger settlement than they offered in the beginning. Tom and his staff are a wonderful, caring group of people, and I don’t think I could have gotten through this without them.

- Sandy

Tom and his team are the top tier in the worker compensation field as I experienced the professionalism personally. I was injured at work and after two other well publicized and awarded attorneys failed to reach a satisfactory outcome, Tom and his team proved how a dedicated, genuine, caring, honest team can get the better than expected results for a client.

- DR

Dana and her staff are the most professional and outstanding lawyer I have ever dealt with and I would highly recommend anybody that would need a lawyer contact her. They made me feel more like a friend or family. When dealing with them and made the whole process, go smoothly as possible. There’s not enough words to describe the gratitude I feel for her and her staff. Thank you for a job well done. I would highly recommend her at her staff to anybody that would need legal assistance.

- Les A.

Dana has been incredibly helpful in representing me. She made the entire process easy, addressing any issues with professionalism and care. Her team was equally wonderful, providing excellent support throughout. I highly recommend Dana and her team to anyone seeking assistance with workers’ compensation.

- Attas

Amazing Workman’s Comp attorneys. Tom did everything he said he would. His paralegal team and staff are amazing too and very quick to get back to you. Fought for me until the very end. Will recommend this team to anyone having Workman’s Comp issues.

- Taylor K.

Words can not express how amazing Dana and the family at Atkinson Gerber Law are! Everyone was so kind and helpful. Dana and Morgan where prompt, knowledgeable and so so kind. I can not recommend them enough if you or a loved one ever needs legal help. Getting injured is stressful but with this phenomenal team in your corner, it really helps ease some stress. I can’t thank them enough!

- Amber N.

Despite that my case ended about 10 months ago, I actually went back to place this review because Tom and his team did so well and help me through a very, very difficult time in my life. I want to thank the entire staff for all their help.