Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Minnesota Workers Compnsation Secrets From An Expert.

You have sustained a Minnesota work related injury.  You may live in St. Paul, Minneapolis, Duluth, Worthington, International Falls or perhaps you don't even live in Minnesota.  Our lawyers have handled thousands of workers compensation cases over the past 20 years.  During this time we have gained valuable insight and secrets that insurance companies hope you don't find out.  How did we find out these secrets?  Our lawyers are former insurance company attorneys and many of our staff members are former insurance company employees, including work comp claims adjusters.  Some of our staff and lawyers have themselves sustained work related injuries for which they also had to fight insurance companies for their benefits.  With our insider information and first hand experience we have compiled a list of secrets very few if any law firms can share.  Below are some of the secrets we will share.
  • You do NOT need to sign a blanket employment and medical release for insurance companies in all cases. 
  • Insurance companies will often have their staff nurses and doctors call your physicians and try to convince them to limit your treatment and lift your restrictions.  You can refuse to allow this.
  •  Nurse case managers are NOT neutral.  They work solely for the insurance company to limit your treatment and rush your return to work.  You can prohibit them from working on your file.
  • You have the right to chose the QRC.  Some QRCs are actually employee's of the insurance company.  Can they really be neutral?  You can and MUST chose your own QRC.
These are just some of the Secrets From A Former Insurance Company Attorney we can share with you online.  Contact attorneys Tom Atkinson or Kerry Atkinson to schedule a free consultation to learn even more secrets.  There is never a fee unless we recover benefits for you.  Visit our website at www.mndisability.com or call 651-333-3636 today.

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Do You Have To Attend A Minnesota Workers Compensation Independent Medical Examinations?

"Independent Medical Examinations" are very rarely independent.  As my friends from WWO Law demonstrate in the video they created, most IME doctors have an agenda.  First an foremost to supplement their income by conducting hundreds of exams a year.  One doesn't have to be a work comp expert to realize IME physician have a monetary interest to find NO work injury or a temporary injury at best. 

Though I only represent injured workers, I'm a former insurance company attorney.  IME's are set up by work comp insurance adjusters with the sole purpose to deny or limit your Minnesota workers compensation benefits.  Unfortunately Minnesota law requires that you attend your independent medical examination if it is within 150 miles of your home.  The insurance company must pay for your travel to and from the examination.  When you arrive at the examination do NOT fill out any paperwork other than provide your identification.  Be polite and respectful even though you know this doctor is likely to misrepresent the extent of your injuries and perhaps even outright lie.  If you have a well experienced workers compensation attorney he/she will be familiar with the doctor and know how to attack the doctor's credibility.  We may have even deposed the doctor previously or have past workers compensation decisions where the IME doctor was found not credible.

Minnesota workers compensation is a complex area of law that general practitioners, personal injury attorneys and young lawyers with pretty websites occasionally think they can handle.  The truth is that it takes many years to become familiar with the laws, opposing attorneys, judges and independent medical examiners.  At Atkinson Law Office we specifically limit our practice to workers compensation and have done so for over 25 years.  We offer free consultations and you will never pay a fee unless we obtain benefits for you.  Visit our website at www.mndisabiilty.com or call us from across the state of Minnesota at 651-333-3636