Thursday, October 28, 2010

I Settled My Workers Compensation Case Years Ago. Now What?


NEVER ever assume that your case is settled completely. Even seasoned lawyers make mistakes in reading settlement documents and mistakenly believe a case is closed. In fact, I had a well known defense attorney claim to me just the other day that my clients claim for permanent total disability was closed; he wrote a letter to the judge telling him the same thing. I obtained a copy of the settlement papers and guess what? The settlement only closed out his benefits up to the date of the settlement and NOT future benefits. If an attorney with over 25 years experience can get it wrong don't assume you are also reading the documents correctly. Facts change, the law changes, your condition may have worsened over the years. All of these elements can result in new claims or reopening of old claims. Call our office for a free consultation. We would love to review your old settlement agreements and advise you whether you have an ongoing entitlement to benefits. At Minnesota Disability and Atkinson Law Office P.A. we have recovered millions of dollars of benefits on behalf of our clients! 651-333-3636. You may also contact us through our website at www.mndisability.com

Monday, October 4, 2010

Cost Of Living Decrease of 1.14% Beginning October 1, 2010


If you are reading this article you are one of tens of thousands of Minnesota Workers Compensation victims who have had there benefits reduced at a time when they can least afford it. Is there any remedy to this reduction? Not directly, but many of you who have contacted my office have been educated about benefits you NEVER knew you were entitled to receive under Minnesota law. Workers' compensation benefits are NOT welfare. They are a benefit that YOU pay for indirectly out of your salary and with every day of labor you provide. Do not be afraid to talk with a workers compensation attorney; preferably one who specializes in work comp and disability claims. Take the opportunity of this decrease to educate yourself and your family of your rights to retraining, second medical opinions, skill enhancements and even additional wage loss benefits that may have been stopped years ago. That's right, benefits that have been stopped can in many circumstances be restarted after losing a job or having an aggravation of your injury. At Atkinson Law Office and Minnesota Disability our staff has over 50 years experience handling workers compensation claims. There is no cost to speak with an attorney 7 days a week. 651-333-3636 or visit our web site www.mndisability.com

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Best Minnesota Workers Compensation Attorney - You Just Found Him


When choosing a workers compensation attorney it is extremely important that you chose one that has at least 10 years of experience LIMITED to work comp! You may ask yourself why is it important, perhaps a lawyer with only a few years is "hungry" and will be willing to dedicate more time to my case. Hogwash. A lawyer who handles car accidents, dog bites, and general personal injury simply doesn't have time to keep up with the fast changing workers compensation laws. Every year the Minnesota Legislature and the Department of Labor make changes to the laws that affecting your benefits. Your date of injury, however determines which benefits you get. Many of my younger colleagues may try hard, but they may miss important benefits that only an experienced work comp attorney has previously litigated for decades.

There is no retainer required when hiring a workers compensation lawyer and there is NEVER a fee unless we obtain a recovery on your behalf. Even then, our attorney fees are paid directly by the insurance company. Call us and let our office show you how we can help you today! Thomas Atkinson 651-333-3636 www.mndisability.com

Monday, April 19, 2010

Top Minnesota Workers Compensation Attorneys


You have the absolute right to chose the attorney who represents you in a workers compensation matter. At Minnesota Disability and Atkinson Law Office we have recovered millions of dollars for our injured and disabled clients. Regardless of who you chose to represent you, Minnesota laws require that we ALL charge the same fee and that said fee is always paid directly by the insurance company rather than you!

Attorney Thomas Atkinson has been recognized by his peers as both a Rising Star and Superlawyer honors indicating he is one of Minnesota's top worker compensation attorneys. Atkinson Law Offices has successfully represented clients throughout Minnesota including; Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, St. Cloud, Alexandria, Rochester and throughout the Iron Range. Our staff includes individuals with decades of experience handling workers compensation claims. Atkinson Law Office and Minnesota Disability have the unique experience of having individuals who have previously represented insurance companies and employers in workers compensation disputes. Our practice is now limited to representing injured employees and are anxious to share the secrets we have learned over many decades to maximize your benefits and monetary recovery.

If you are looking for a top Minnesota Work Comp attorney, contact our office today. Do NOT wait until you have a benefit dispute, you may already be losing benefits that your have been advised. Contact Tom Atkinson at 651-414-0678 or tom@mndisability.com Also visit out website at www.mndisability.com

Friday, March 19, 2010

The workers' compensation insurance company hired a "Nurse Case Manager" in my case. What does that mean, and how am I supposed to deal with them?


Time and again I ask new clients whether they have a QRC or Qualified Rehabilitation Counselor. These clients often respond that they have a nurse case manager which is the same thing. WRONG!

A nurse case manager is NOT I repeat NOT neutral in any sense of the word. Workers' compensation insurance companies often assign a nurse case manager advising the employee the nurse is merely helping that the injured worker receives the prescribed medical care, and to assure that the worker returns as quickly as possible either in a light duty or full duty position.

The truth is that the nurse case manager often works behind the employee's back to push, bully and force doctors to try to get a premature light duty release from the doctor so you can return. Often this actually leads to delayed recovery and even further injury. Many nurse case managers will try to enter the examination room with the injured worker. You have a right to meet with your doctor privately and unlike many states, here in Minnesota you can prevent the nurse case manager from speaking with the doctor. I often advise my clients to discharge nurse case managers as they serve no benefit to the injured worker. DO NOT ALLOW THE NURSE CASE MANAGER TO SPEAK WITH YOUR DOCTOR PRIVATELY, DEMAND TO BE PRESENT WHEN YOUR MEDICAL CARE IS DISCUSSED.

Do not go it alone. Speak with an experienced workers' compensation lawyer. Call today for a free consultation. Attorney Thomas Atkinson has nearly two decades of practicing exclusively workers compensation. Call today at 651-333-3636 or visit our web site at www.mndisability.com.