Can You Receive Workers’ Compensation for Stress-Related Injuries in Minnesota?

Workers’ compensation provides benefits for employees injured on the job, and while physical injuries like broken bones are commonly covered, stress-related injuries like anxiety or depression, if they’re caused by workplace conditions, can also qualify. These claims aren’t the easiest to bring because of the less tangible nature of a stress injury, but a work injury lawyer in Minneapolis can help.

Workers’ Compensation for Stress-Related Injuries in Minnesota

Eligibility

Minnesota law allows workers’ compensation for mental injuries, including stress-related conditions, but meeting the criteria is important here. First, the stress-related injury must be a diagnosable mental health condition, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or major depressive disorder, and the diagnosis must be done by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist.

The definition of the disorder must fit the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders by the American Psychiatric Association, and it must have been caused by extraordinary workplace stress. That means the stress must exceed normal job pressures and be directly tied to your work environment. Everyday workplace stress, like tight deadlines or changing schedules or unpleasant interactions with customers or coworkers typically doesn’t meet the threshold.

Proving Your Stress-Related Injury

To receive workers’ compensation for a stress-related injury, you must prove that your condition is work-related and meets Minnesota’s high bar for compensability. First you’ll need to get a medical diagnosis from a qualified and licensed professional who believes that your mental health condition is linked to specific workplace events. You’ll also need evidence that you were under extraordinary stress, such as documentation of a traumatic incident or a hostile work environment. Your lawyer will help you gather evidence like witness statements, HR complaints, or incident reports that can support your claim.

Unlike physical injuries, stress injury claims almost always face skepticism from both employers and insurers. It’s common for them to argue that the condition stems from personal issues or that the employee is “too sensitive.” That’s why it’s so important to get as much clear evidence as you can and why consulting a workers’ compensation attorney is particularly important.

Types of Benefits Available

If your stress-related injury claim is approved, you can access medical benefits to cover treatment costs for therapy, medication, or hospitalization for your condition. You’ll also be owed certain wage-loss benefits if that’s applicable, such as temporary total disability to replace a portion of your income if you’re unable to work.

If the injury causes you long-term impairment, then permanent partial disability benefits could potentially be on the table. In rare cases, vocational rehabilitation might be called for. Reliability could allow you to can transition to a less stressful role. Your work injury lawyer in Minneapolis can help you pursue the full range of benefits that could be available.

The Claims Process

It all starts with reporting the injury to your employer as soon as possible after you have a diagnosis linking your condition to your work conditions. This needs to be done in 30 days if at all possible, and if there’s any delay, it gets harder to bring your claim. Your employer will then complete a First Report of Injury form and notify their workers’ compensation insurer.

If the claim is approved, benefits begin; if they are denied, you can appeal through the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings. An appeal may mean getting an independent medical evaluation and negotiating with insurers. Your attorney can handle the paperwork, meet the deadlines, and advocate and negotiate for you through this process.

Potential Challenges and Denials

Stress-related injury claims have unique hurdles because of their subjective nature. Insurers do like to deny these claims and argue that the stress wasn’t extraordinary, the condition isn’t work-related, or that it pre-existed the job.

Employers may also dispute the claim, usually because they want to avoid higher insurance premiums. Overcoming these challenges will require you to have strong medical testimony and workplace documentation and a skilled lawyer who knows how to make the evidence clearly tell a story. Minnesota law requires that you present clear evidence linking the condition to specific work incidents, and your lawyer will help you compile this evidence and use it well.

Potential for a Settlement

Many workers’ compensation claims are resolved through settlements rather than going through the full hearing process. A settlement is an agreement wherein the insurer pays you either a lump sum or a series of payments to cover your benefits. In exchange, you end your claim and aren’t allowed to seek more.

Negotiating a fair settlement is challenging when an insurer is undervaluing your claim or disputing the extent of your condition, and your lawyer’s job is to bring the evidence to bear to show why what you’re claiming is reasonable and keep pushing until the offered settlement is fair. Your lawyer will also make sure you’ve properly calculated the full worth of your claim so you can negotiate from a position of strength.

The Appeals Process

If your stress-related injury claim is denied, and you go through an appeal, the process begins with filing a petition. This should happen within 180 days of the denial. Then you’ll have a hearing before a workers’ compensation judge. Your lawyer will present your evidence, including your medical records and any witness testimony, to prove that your condition is work-related and meets the extraordinary stress standard.

The insurer will counter with their evidence or experts, of course, and your lawyer must be prepared to defend your claim against them. If the judge rules against you at this hearing, you can make further appeals to the Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals or even the Minnesota Supreme Court, but it becomes less and less likely that the court will be willing to hear your appeal. It’s better to get things done the first time around, or, at worst, on the first appeal, and that’s why the skill and experience of your attorney matter so much.

Protecting Against Retaliation

Workplace retaliation is a reality, but it is illegal. If your employer retaliates against your claim with a demotion, reduced hours, or even termination of your employment, you have rights. You can file a separate claim for damages, even if your workplace injury claim is denied.

If you suspect retaliation, talk to your lawyer. You’ll need to carefully document things like negative performance reviews or hostile workplace incidents after filing your claim because you’ll have to show a clear link between your claim and the employer’s actions. A workers’ compensation attorney can help you identify and document the retaliation, pursue additional claims as necessary, and protect your rights while you seek compensation for your injury.

Talk to a Work Injury Lawyer in Minneapolis Soon

Time is critical. Delaying to report to your employer or filing a claim can weaken your case, and early action means witness memories are fresh. Much depends on the experience of your lawyer, and a lawyer can also evaluate your case and help you understand what steps you need to take; plus, your lawyer will take on much of the stress of communication, paperwork, filing, negotiation, and more.

For help with your stress claim, contact the Atkinson Gerber Law Office in Minneapolis or St. Paul, MN today.