A work-related injury can entitle you to the workmans comp Minnesota companies provide. Win your claim, and you can be on your way to a series of benefits and medical treatments you do not need to pay for.
But how do you know if your injury falls under what Minnesota labor laws consider “work-related”? This is an important question since the law only entitles you to compensation following such an injury.
In Minnesota, injuries that are not the result of your day-to-day tasks may disqualify you from a claim. This is true even if the said injury occurred in the workplace. You need to be certain about the cause of yours before you file for workers’ compensation.
Read on to learn more about how to classify your injury in Minnesota.
What Is a Work-Related Injury in Minnesota?
Different states have varying definitions of what constitutes a work-related injury. Nonetheless, Minnesota labor law’s definition retains the basic relationship of work responsibilities and resulting injury.
Like in many other states, an injury is a condition characterized by the loss of function. The loss of function can manifest in several ways. Losses in function can manifest as:
- A physical impairment that prevents a person from performing a physical task
- A partial impairment that hinders normal daily functioning
- A permanent impairment that hinders normal daily functioning and work
- A loss of sensory abilities
- A loss of one former mental or cognitive capacities
In Minnesota, an important element in defining injury is the causing party. In legal parlance, the above-mentioned need to be caused or brought about by a certain party or person.
In a work-related injury, the causing party is the workplace and job. Contrary to popular belief, the place of the occurrence is not the definitive component of a work-related injury.
For an injury to be considered work-related, it needs to take place in the workplace in due course with one’s job designation. In other words, you need to be injured because of what your employer tells you to do. If you get injured as a result of a task not related to your work, the injury is not work-related.
It does not matter if it occurred in your workplace. Your employer has no obligation to compensate you in such a situation.
In short, the definition for work injury that Minnesota has includes:
- The loss of functioning (e.g., physical, psychological, sensory, occupational)
- The place where you sustained your injury (i.e., your place of work)
- The cause (i.e., your responsibilities)
How To Tell If Your Injury Falls Under the Work-Related Classification in Minnesota
If you have been on the receiving end of an accident at work and sustained an injury as a result, you may want to ask yourself the following.
Also, all your answers to the following questions in this section need to be in the affirmative. Otherwise, your injury may not be work-related, and you may not be entitled to the work comp Minneapolis companies provide.
“Did My Injury Occur at Work?”
By determining your response to this question, you can at least establish the whereabouts of your injury. As mentioned earlier, your injury needs to have occurred at work.
Now, establishing the workplace as where you got your injury is simple enough. However, there is more to the phrase “at work” that you ought to consider.
When we say “at work,” we mean more than your workplace. We also mean your hours of work. Determining the time of your injury is also a consideration. If you have an accident at your workplace and it was not your designated time, you are technically not “at work.”
If you are rendering overtime work outside your regular hours when you sustained the injury, you will need proof. This is a must for your injury report.
“Was I Performing My Duties When I Got Injured?”
A work-related injury is defined as an injury sustained in due course with one’s job description. So for your injury to be work-related, you need to have sustained it performing your regular tasks at work.
As well, your injury may still be work-related if your employment activities aggravate a pre-existing injury. This is why most employers in the state require medical checkups from their employees. If you sustained injuries that are not a result of your job, you cannot claim workers’ compensation.
Are All Work-Related Injuries Physical?
Although much emphasis has been given to physical impairment, not all work-related injuries are physical. According to Minnesota labor laws, work-related injury can be:
- Physical
- Emotional or mental
Both types of injuries may warrant workers’ compensation. If you experience either or both, you can file a claim provided that these occurred due to:
- You being in the workplace at your official designated time
- Your work-related duties and responsibilities
For example, your injury is work-related if it results in feelings of hopelessness or depression. Of course, an assessment needs to be performed by a licensed psychiatrist or mental health practitioner.
Likewise, a herniated disc resulting from you lifting so many boxes for your shift also entitles you to workers’ compensation.
A correlation between a physical and mental injury as a result of an injury at work is also considered work-related. It has been recognized that physical injuries can lead to mental injuries. The reverse is also true.
For instance, if you develop PTSD because pallets landed on your leg, you have a work injury claim that covers both mental and physical injuries.
Final Word: Include These in Your Injury Report For a Successful Workman Comp Claim
Due to the state’s definition of a work-related injury, you need to report more than your injuries. You need to include information on the circumstances surrounding your accident.
For a thorough injury report for work comp, you need to include:
- The parts that were injured or the injuries you sustained
- The time at which you sustained your injuries
- What activities you were performing
Depending on your company, you might be required to provide other pieces of information. Nonetheless, including the above-mentioned will establish your injury as work-related as per Minnesota’s classification.
If you need help with your personal or work injury claims, do not hesitate to reach out to us at Osterbauer Law.
