Here are the facts; in Minnesota a workers compensation judge MUST approve any settlement entered into between an insurance company and an injured worker. If you have never had an attorney it's very unlikely your case is really "closed". More likely, the insurance adjuster paid your permanent partial disability and closed your case. In some cases, even though you had an attorney assisting with your claim, your case may also still be open!
At Atkinson Law Office, we have reopened hundreds of these "closed" cases over the years. In one instance recently we recovered an additional $200,000 in workers compensation benefits. The client was astounded and frankly so were we. How did this happen you may ask? We were assisting a client with a social security disability application. In preparing for the application we learned that one of his past back surgeries was work related. He assumed that because he had an attorney and received a lump sum from the insurance company his case was closed.
We conducted an investigation and within 2 weeks we learned he never actually settled his work comp case and all of his benefits remained open. What he thought was a settlement was actually payment of permanent partial disability. We subsequently filed a claim for permanent total disability arguing successfully that his prior work related back injury was substantially contributing to his inability to work.
Injured workers are entitled to wage loss, vocational assistance, medical benefits and permanent partial disability. Though we don't have "pain and suffering" we are a no-fault benefit system. Even if you could be deemed negligent in causing or contributing to your injury you are entitled to full compensation under Minnesota workers compensation laws.
If you have a new or old workers compensation case, we would be happy to review your file and help you learn about missing benefits and compensation. Call us at 651-333-3636 and visit our website www.mndisability.com . We have represented thousands of clients throughout Minnesota and across the United States who have sustained Minnesota workers compensation injuries.
