I Need A Minnesota Workers Compensation Lawyer. Who Is The Best Minnesota Work Comp Attorney For My Case?

Minnesota does not allow workers compensation attorneys to call themselves "experts".  However, there are vast differences in the quality and experience of Minnesota workers compensation lawyers for hire throughout our state.  Some attorneys are really "personal injury" attorneys who do workers compensation on the side.  Work comp is truly just a side practice for these firms or they will simply refer you to lawyers like myself who limit their practice to work comp.  Other law firms claim to do it all; divorces, wills, criminal law and would you guess workers compensation too?  I'm a strong believer in hiring a specialist.

At Atkinson Law Office and Minnesota Disability, we limit our practice to representing injured and disabled workers.  We believe that our background in having previously represented employers and insurers is the secret to our success.  We know the opposing attorneys, insurance companies and adjusters better than most lawyers across the state.  We know how they think and in some cases have taught them what they know (and this is not an exaggeration).  Tom Atkinson has has been asked to lecture for decades to both insurance companies, work comp adjusters and other workers compensation attorneys.  Since opening his practice representing injured workers, Mr. Atkinson is a frequent lecturer to lawyers seeking his insight and wisdom in representing injured workers.

We have compiled a team of paralegals, investigators and other lawyers who assist in various aspects of your case.  Rest assured however, that Tom Atkinson will always be on hand to personally answer your questions when necessary.  Mr. Atkinson takes pride in sharing his personal story of suffering a work related injury and undergoing both back and neck surgery as the result.  He understands the frustration of late wage loss payments, unpaid medical bills and denied claims.  Let him help you navigate the maze known as Minnesota Workers Compensation.

Our attorneys and investigators are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer your calls.  Call today at 651-333-3636 or visit our website for additional information, www.mndisability.com  We have clients across the country and throughout Minnesota that have suffered Minnesota workers compensation injuries.  Remember, your consultation is absolutely free and there is NEVER a fee unless we recover benefits for you. 

What Is A Qualified Rehabilitation Counselor QRC And How Do I Get One?

What is a QRC?  Qualified Rehabilitation Consultants, also known as a QRCs, are licensed by the state of Minnesota to provide vocational rehabilitation services to injured workers.   You are told that QRC’s are supposed to work in the interests of both the employee and the employer, but you will find that many QRC’s are not truly “independent.”

Most injured workers have an insurance company assigned QRC.  Usually everything starts out fine.  However, the longer you are off of work the sooner you will begin to notice Dr. Jekyll turn into Mr. Hyde.  The QRC will begin pushing the doctor to lessen your restrictions or you will notice the QRC linger in the doctors office after your appointment in order to ask a question they "forgot".   The insurance-company-assigned QRC is not going to be looking out for your interests and by the time you figure it out, it's usually too late. Even if you’ve met with a QRC the insurance company assigned to you, and you’ve signed a Rehabilitation Plan (R-2) in Minnesota, you have the right to change QRC’s within 60 days without obtaining approval from the insurance company and you don't need a reason.

If your QRC is minimizing your injuries, miscommunicating your symptoms and complaints to the doctor, if you feel like your QRC is pushing your doctor to return you to work too early, or if you feel like your QRC is pressuring your doctor to decrease or remove your restrictions,  call attorney Thomas Atkinson TODAY.  Every day matters and the sooner you call the sooner we can assist you in getting you a fair and helpful QRC. 

Unfortunately, after 60 days have passed, it can difficult to change QRC’s but it can be done.   The lawyers at Atkinson Law Office and Minnesota Disability have helped hundreds of clients obtain a QRC to properly assist them in their recovery from injury, return to work, or if necessary develop retraining plans.  There is never a fee unless we recover benefits for you and your consultation is absolutely FREE.  Call today at 651-333-3636 or visit our website www.mndisability.com

Choosing A Qualified Rehabilitation Counselor (QRC)

What is a QRC?  A qualified rehabilitation counselor works to assist in the rehabilitation of injured workers.  A QRC has the job of helping injured workers return to suitable employment as quickly as possible. This could mean a return to work with the pre-injury employer, in either the same job or another job, or to a new employer in the same or a different type of work.

Though QRCs are suppose to be neutral parties in the rehabilitation process, any experienced workers compensation attorney will telling you that often those QRCs assigned to you by the employer and insurer have an alternative motive; steering you to a biased uncaring doctor, obtaining a full release of restrictions as soon as possible regardless of you the injured worker, and minimizing rehab costs.  The employer insurer QRC is NOT to be trusted.  They employer and insurer QRC may seem to be your friend and acting on your behalf but before you realize what is happening the damage done may be difficult to reverse.  You have the right to change QRCs at any time within the first 60 days after they are assigned.  However you have the right to chose the initial QRC.  ALWAYS consult with an attorney to obtain a suggestion of the right QRC for you.  At Minnesota Disability and Atkinson Law Office, we can help you with this extremely important task at no cost to you.  Feel free to contact our office directly at 651-333-3636.

What's Ahead In For Injured Workers In 2012?

If you were in 2011 and are currently off of work receiving wage loss benefits, most of you will likely face a roadblock to ongoing benefits in 2012.  Terms like MMI (maximum medical improvement), IME (independent medical examinations), NOID (notice of intent to discontinue benefits), and QRC (qualified rehabilitation counselor) are yellow lights warning you of a possible end to your benefits.

If you receive ANY correspondence from your Minnesota workers compensation adjuster you need to contact a lawyer NOW!  Too often injured workers come to our office many months after receiving letters containing these keywords.  It's never too late to come see us, but we will be better able to react if you call us today 651-333-3636.  One of our lawyers can explain to you how your benefits are about to be changed.  Our consultations are always FREE and we urge you to contact a work comp lawyer who specializes in working with injured and disabled employees rather than a general personal injury practice.  Our employees have a combined background over nearly 75 years working with workers compensation claims.  Visit our website at www.mndisability.com and call to speak with an attorney today at 651-333-3636.

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.