If you have sustained an injury at work, Minnesota’s statutes will require your employer to compensate you. Minnesota’s labor statutes entitle you to workers’ compensation. You can receive this through the payout of your employer’s insurance provider.
If you are wondering about how much you should settle for a work injury, know that the amount will depend. While Minnesota’s labor statutes apply to most employees, the amounts receivable vary case to case. The amount you are entitled to will differ from that of another person – even if you have sustained similar injuries.
Many factors will determine the workers’ compensation that you can receive, including the insurance provider’s offer. As well, the results of reports like your permanency rating will play a crucial role in the amount for which you can settle.
In short, there is no single amount set in stone. With the help of the best workers’ compensation lawyers in Minnesota, you should be able to settle for the best possible amount.
Learn more about how much your work injury settlement should amount to and what influences it.
The Insurance Provider’s Initial Settlement Amount — Go Higher
Every employee who has sustained an injury can file a worker’s compensation claim with the employer. In an ideal scenario, the employee receives the right amount of compensation for the injury, covering:
- Immediate and long-term medical expenses
- Rehabilitative expenses
- Wage losses for days missed at work due to the injury
As a business owner, your employer needs to carry business liability insurance. It will not be the employer who pays out of pocket for your compensation. Instead, the business liability insurance contains workers’ compensation insurance that settles the injuries of employees.
Fortunately, most, if not all, work-related injury cases in the state merit some form of reparative pay or reimbursement. Of course, due to the interests of your employer’s insurance provider, you should not expect this amount to be very high. This is something the best workers’ compensation lawyers in Minnesota will suggest.
Your employer’s insurance provider might agree to a settlement, giving you a certain figure. This figure will be touted to cover your expenses and any wage losses you may have incurred from your injury.
The amount might look attractive. Nonetheless, you should still speak with top-rated workman’s comp lawyers in Minnesota to see if the amount is right. Oftentimes, this amount will be less than what you would receive if the calculations were done with your attorney.
This is where negotiations will come in. When negotiating the terms of your work injury settlement, it is crucial to have legal counsel and representation.
The Insurance Provider May Refuse to Compensate You
Since the business insurance provider has to pay, there is a chance that the provider would be unwilling to do so. After all, insurance providers have a vested interest in not using their own money. Rather, they either want to save money or make it. Paying for workers’ compensation is not conducive to these aims.
To legitimize their refusal to pay, insurance providers will often argue that the business was not to blame. At times, insurance providers will cite the fault of equipment or third-party liability. In the worst-case scenario, they may even blame part of the incident on you, the employee.
If matters escalate, the insurance provider takes things to court. It is important to note, however, that hardly does this occur owing to the steep fees associated with legal proceedings in the state.
When the insurance provider refuses to provide any form of compensation, consider this a red flag. In such a situation, you will need the best workers’ compensation lawyers in Minnesota to represent and advocate for your interests.
How Much You Should Get Depends on Your Permanency Rating
The most significant determinant of your settlement amount will also depend on the severity of your injuries. By severity, we mean both the extent of damage to your body and whether or not the injury is permanent.
Determining this is the permanency rating. The permanency rating is a figure in percentage points issued by a physician attending to your care. It represents the severity of your injuries and, most importantly, the degree to which your injury is permanent.
Your permanency rating will determine how much you ought to settle for your work injury. According to Minnesota’s labor statutes, injury settlements or workers’ compensation benefits are classified based on the type of injury.
How the Best Workers’ Compensation Lawyers in Minnesota Can Help Win You a Settlement?
Settling your work injury claim will be difficult if you choose to do it on your own. This is why getting legal counsel and representation is crucial to guarantee the best possible outcome for your compensation claim.
The services and counsel of top-rated workmans’ comp lawyers in Minnesota will help you in the following ways:
Help You Get a Larger Settlement
As mentioned earlier, your employer’s insurance provider pays for your workmans’ compensation. However, in the interest of saving money, insurance providers will aim to pay the lowest possible amount to the recipients.
These low-ball offers may seem acceptable, especially as you recover from injury and miss days from work. However, be aware that a small settlement is only beneficial in the short term and hardly compensates you for pain and suffering.
With the services of a workman’s comp lawyer in the state, not only will you maximize your chances of winning; you will also be setting yourself up to receive a larger sum for your injuries.
Win You a Settlement without Going to Trial
Indeed, not many workers’ compensation cases make it to trial. However, to be on the safe side, the services of top-rated workmans’ comp lawyers in Minnesota can help you avoid being an unfortunate statistic.
It is no secret that trials can be stressful and expensive. The best workmans’ comp lawyers in the state have the skills and experience for getting you a fair settlement. Most importantly, they can give you this result without an expensive and drawn-out trial.
Look out for Your Best Interests
The claims and settlement process in Minnesota can be tricky. In addition, your employer’s insurance provider will attempt to make the process even more challenging to coerce you into accepting a low offer.
A work comp lawyer does more than win you a settlement. Your lawyer also ensures that the state’s legal procedures are followed and that proceedings are fair.
How Much Should You Settle? The Amount Which You Deserve
Settlement amounts can vary on a case-to-case basis. Factors like your employer’s insurance provider and your permanency rating can come to play.
Whatever amount you have been offered by the insurance provider, know that you can get more. Insurance providers will often go below what is due to you.
Are you looking for a way to receive the amount which truly compensates you for your work injury? Hire only the top-rated workmans’ comp lawyers in Minnesota.
