How To Choose A True Minnesota Workers Compensation Expert Attorney.

You have sustained a work injury in Minnesota and you want to know what to expect or what benefits you are entitled to.  What do most injured workers do when they need an attorney?  They ask friends, family or like most people you go onto the internet and research Minnesota Workers Compensation.  Unfortunately as I have stated on previous blog posts there are lawyers who exaggerate their expertise in workers compensation or are "posers".  They dabble in work comp or they are filled with "baby lawyers".  Here is a free checklist to use when interviewing a Minnesota workers compensation attorneys.  If any of the following answers are NO, you owe it to yourself and family to continue searching for the right attorney for you.

1.  Has the attorney practiced law for at least 10 years?  Would you have a surgeon just out of medical school operate on your child?  They may be smart, but they don't teach "experience" in law school.  Choose experience because it really does matter.

2.  Does the attorney specialize in workers compensation? - Workers compensation is an extremely specialized area of the law with laws that are constantly changing.  I have personally handled workers compensation cases exclusively for nearly 30 years.  I cringe when I get calls from injured workers who hired a "posers" or baby lawyer and soon realize the mistake they made.  It may not be too late to change.  In some special circumstances we will assist these injured workers change attorneys.

3.  Has the attorney taken a case to hearing before a judge at Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings every single year they been an attorney.  Why is this important?  It demonstrates the attorney is not a dabbler who handles work comp some days and family law and criminal matter on others.  It also shows that the attorney isn't afraid to take a case to a formal hearing and fight for their client when necessary.  I know an attorney who claims to "specialize" in work comp for over 10 years but has NEVER gone to hearing.  And guess what?  Every single defense attorney and insurance adjuster know who these attorneys are.  Even experienced personal injury attorneys are can be guilty of being work comp dabblers.  You've seen these firms advertise on TV or on billboards...dabblers.  Not a single top Minnesota work comp lawyer advertises on TV or has a billboard?  Why because they don't need to advertise to get clients.  Clients are often referred to Atkinson Law Office by other attorneys and doctors.

4.  Take lawyer ratings with a grain of salt.  Workers compensation disputes are very emotionally charged and frustrating.  Just like any relationship there may be times when you and your attorney do not agree.  Lawyers make recommendations and clients make decisions outside of the courtroom.  When they differ it may be time to find a new attorney.  In addition, many internet lawyer review sites are "anonymous" so some lawyers hire companies to leave good ratings...or poor ratings for others.  It's unethical but not enforced by many professional oversight boards.

5.  Listen to your gut instincts.  Don't hire an attorney just because they were the first one to take your call or they sound nice.  After asking the attorney the above questions and they answer YES to all three of the first test questions AND you seem to have a good rapport or ability to speak to them, you have found an attorney to potentially hire.  I often encourage injured workers I meet for the first time to talk with other lawyers.  I will even go so far as to suggest other lawyers who have the same expertise and high ethical standards as we do.  In the end we want you to have a "good fit" with an expert Minnesota workers compensation attorney.

If you want a free consultation regarding your work injury contact the work comp experts at Atkinson Gerber Work Comp Experts at 651-333-3636.

Does Minnesota Have Pain and Suffering For Work Injuries?

Minnesota workers compensation provides a different form of "damages" then one would receive in a personal injury accident such as a car accident or medical malpractice claim.  The reason is that "negligence" is not a factor in determining the cause of the injury or damages.  It's not relevant whether your co-worker or employer are negligent or that your injuries prevent you from doing the personal or social activities you did before your injury.

You can expect to receive lost wage benefits, vocational assistance to keep or find a new job, payment of your medical expenses and a small payment for any resulting permanent disability.

When I meet with new clients I'm always up front and tell them that these benefits may not seem fair, because in many instances they are not.  Especially when your employer or co-worker were grossly negligent.  I agree, Minnesota's workers compensation system is not fair.  I had a work injury too; a low back surgery many years ago.  After being off of work for months, being forced to give up activities I loved, having to hire people to perform household chores I can no longer perform, I received a small sum of money for my troubles.  Yep, it isn't fair.

Our lawyers ensure that even if you believe you are receiving all of the benefits listed above, you are receiving the proper amount.  Often the basis for your wage loss is incorrect, or you are directed by the insurance company or your employer to treat only with a particular doctor who doesn't have your best interest in mind.  Everyone who has a work injury should take 30 minutes to speak to an experienced work comp expert.  Not a "dabbler" or "baby lawyer".  At Atkinson Law, we specialize in workers compensation, we have over 60 years combined experience and year after year are chosen as Super Lawyers by our peers and judges.  Call today for an appointment.  651-333-3636.

Atkinson Law Office Welcomes Dana Gerber As Our Newest Attorney.

One of the areas that distinguishes the attorneys of Atkinson Law Office from all other Minnesota workers compensation firms is that we are former insurance company lawyers.  Our lawyers have over 60 years of combined legal experience.  Our lead investigator is a former workers compensation claims adjuster who specialized in construction injuries for over a decade. Some of our staff have sustained significant work injuries necessitating multiple surgeries just like you.  Now Atkinson Law uses these experiences and secrets we learned from the insurance companies and as injured workers to obtain the very best outcomes for our clients.

Our newest attorney, Dana Gerber, began her career representing injured workers while working for a firm that specialized in predominantly hispanic and latino clients.  Dana is fluent in Spanish and used her language and advocacy skills to obtain very satisfactory outcomes for her clients.  Dana left a few years later after being offered an opportunity to work with a highly regarded insurance defense firm where she could continue to grow her experiences and knowledge of Minnesota workers compensation. After nearly 5 years Dana missed the satisfaction that comes with representing injured workers rather than insurance companies.  Dana wanted to return to her roots as an advocate for injured workers like you.

Since joining our team Dana has quickly distinguished herself as a zealous advocate and successful trial lawyer.  Dana has quickly begun using the insurance company secrets she learned as a defense attorney with enormous benefits for our clients.  Dana has obtained numerous settlements including a recent settlement of nearly $150,000 and has tried many workers compensation cases on behalf of injured workers.  We are astonished but not surprised by her zealous and thoughtful approach to representing injured workers.  We are lucky to have her as a member of our team and we look forward to having her work with injured workers across Minnesota.

If you have been injured and want to speak to Dana regarding your work injury you can contact her directly at 651-333-3636 or email her at dana@mndisability.com  There is NEVER a fee for a consultation and you will never be billed for our services.  We represent injured workers on a contingent fee basis only.  We get paid by the insurance companies if we obtain benefits on your behalf.

I Hurt My Shoulder At Work. My Employer Won't Report My Injury What Should I Do?

It's not uncommon for our office to receive a call from an individual who has been performing repetitive over head work for days, weeks, or even years and has started to complain of shoulder pain. Though this symptom can be a sign of a cervical disc injury, more often then not this is the start of a rotator cuff injury.  We see workers who have either specific accident related injuries or those who have developed "Gillette" injuries to their shoulders.  Gillette injuries are what we call work related repetitive stress injuries here in Minnesota.  Often these are diagnosed as rotator cuff injuries.

Rotator cuff injuries are very common work related injuries in Minnesota.  I have handled well over 200 such injury claims in the last 25 years as a Minnesota workers compensation expert.  A rotator cuff is made of muscles and tendons whose function is to hold your shoulder in place.  It is without question one of the most important parts of your shoulder. The rotator cuff enables you to lift your arms up and reach above your head.  The most common Minnesota work related injuries we see are due to repetitive activities or traumatic tears as the result of falls onto outstretched arms or hands.

A rotator cuff injury can be a strain, partial thickness tear or even a full thickness tear.  The treatment can range from physical therapy to arthroscopic (microscopic/camera guided) surgery.  In some extreme cases there is an open reduction (much larger incision) made to better repair the torn rotator cuff.

Recovery can last weeks or months.  During this time you may be able to return to light duty at reduced hours.  In some cases you will be completely off of work.  If you lose time from work, our attorneys can assist you in recovering lost wages for part or all of the time you are off.  If you surgery has been denied or the workers compensation carrier seems to be dragging their feet we can assist in getting you the surgery you need in an expedite manner in many cases.  Contact the workers compensation experts as Atkinson Law Office today for an absolutely free, no hassle consultation.  Our phones are answered 24/7.  Call today for a free consultation 651-333-3636 from the Twin Cities or throughout the entire state of Minnesota.  Visit us at www.mndisability.com as well.

Are My PERA Retirement Benefits Deductible From My Minnesota Workers Compensation Benefits?

Up until August 13, 2014, injured workers who were declared permanently totally disabled, had their Minnesota workers compensation benefits reduced by the amount of their public employee retirement association (PERA) benefit.  In many cases this would virtually eliminate their entitled to work related wage loss benefits.

On August 13th, the Minnesota Supreme Court, reversed the Minnesota Workers Compensation Court of Appeals in the case of Sharyn Hartwig v. Traverse Care Center and denied the ability of insurance companies to force PERA retirement offsets from permanent total disability benefits.  The Hartwig decision follows another Court decision indicating that teacher pension benefits may not be used to offset permanent total disability benefits. 

How will this affect you case?  For most injured workers they are very lucky in never having to explore the issue of permanent total disability benefits.  However every year I represent clients who have suffered catastrophic injuries where we bring claims for permanent total disability benefits.  In fact, just last week I signed up a client who is clearly PTD and whose employer was encouraging him to file for PERA disability rather than PERA retirement.  The outcome of this case will have a dramatic impact on his benefits in the amount of nearly $2,000/month. 

Though I say this time and time again, experience matters when choosing a workers compensation attorney.  There are attorneys throughout Minnesota who you will find while Google searching on the internet.  They often boast and make claims that are misleading at best.  One firm calls themselves the largest workers compensation firm in Minnesota when all of their workers compensation lawyers combined have less workers compensation experience than myself and a few other lawyers who practice exclusively workers compensation.  We refer to them as "baby lawyers" for a reason.  Ask these so called expert lawyers how many years they have been lawyers (some of the people you talk with aren't even lawyers) and then ask how many years have you exclusively handled workers compensation cases.  The answers will surprise you.

If you need an expert workers compensation attorney with over 2 decades of experience, contact Atkinson Law Office and Minnesota Disability.  Attorney Tom Atkinson is truly recognized as an expert workers compensation attorney and Kerry Atkinson is a State of Minnesota AND National civil litigation specialist certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association and many other organizations.  We look forward to assisting you.  There is NEVER a fee unless we recover benefits for you.  Visit us at www.mndisability.com or call 651-333-3636 today.

Planning To Reject A Light Duty Job Offer After A Minnesota Workers Compensation Injury?

No so fast.  If you have sustained a Minnesota Workers Compensation injury and your doctor provides you with work restrictions, an employer may offer you a light duty job until you reach maximum medical improvement and it's determined whether you will have permanent restrictions.  This "light duty" job can be almost anything and can even be with another company.  One of the recent trends in Minnesota workers compensation is to have you work as a volunteer.  Light duty jobs do not need to be even remotely similar to your date of injury job.  A firefighter or carpenter could be placed as a volunteer at a food shelter wiping off tables or serving meals.

There are however some restrictions on light duty jobs.  If your employer and workers compensation insurer offer you a light duty job it's important that you speak with a workers compensation attorney immediately.  At Atkinson Law Office, you will NEVER be charged a fee and your consultation will always be free.  Every one of our expert workers compensation attorneys at Atkinson Law Office has over 22 years of experience in litigation and when you are choosing the best workers compensation attorney, experience matters!  Call us today for a free consultation 651-333-3636.  We represent clients across the state of Minnesota who have sustained work injuries.

Should You Choose A Minnesota Workers Compensation Attorney Based On A Website?

NO.  Let me emphasize this; absolutely NOT.  Websites are useful to obtain answers to some of your questions and to get a sense of the law firm but you really need to look for answers to the following questions and if you don't find them, BEWARE.

Questions & Answers

1.  Does the lawyer or law firm specialize in Minnesota workers compensation?  

Minnesota does not recognize a "specialty" in workers compensation but out of the few hundred lawyers that attempt to handle workers compensation, only a few limit their practice to work comp.  These people are known affectionately as "comp heads".  If you had a DUI would you trust a lawyer who handles a couple of DUI cases a year, in addition to drafting wills, handling personal injury cases and doing the occasional divorce?  Then why would you want a lawyer whose website promises to handle you with any legal issue you may have or is a general "personal injury" attorney.

2.  How many years has the lawyer been practicing law?

Experience matters.  There is a prominent  law firm that advertises on radio, television and the internet with approximately 4 lawyers.  The firms "work comp lawyers" have a total combined legal experience of just over 10 years total.  That's an average of 2.5 years each.  They are very nice people, but if you've just sustained a work injury...would they really be the ones' to call?  Who is supervising these lawyers?  I don't think a workers compensation judge in our state would even recognize the lawyer whose last name graces the firm's letterhead if he walked into a workers compensation court.  Another lawyer on the internet advertises himself as "The authority for workers compensation in Minnesota for more than 30 years".  Really? Up until last year I had never heard of him and I know EVERY single workers compensation lawyer across then entire state of Minnesota...and they know me.  Ask the lawyer; "How many years have you been licensed to practice law?" Next ask, "How many years have you been practicing exclusively workers compensation?"  I have over 21 years experience practicing exclusively Minnesota workers compensation.  If your lawyer doesn't have significant workers compensation experience RUN and find a lawyer who does.  Experience matters.

3.  Does the lawyer have experience as a defense attorney, insurance adjuster or even as an injured worker?

There are a few excellent lawyers who have only represented injured workers during their career.  I would argue that in some cases, a lawyer with experience as a former defense attorney, workers compensation adjuster or one who has even sustained a contested workers compensation injury brings an entirely different perspective and skills to a case.  Having been a defense attorney for nearly 15 years before opening my firm and limiting my practice to injured workers, I'm able to share secrets I have learned from the insurance companies.  Why they deny claims, how the evaluate settlement, what are the weaknesses of their medical experts.  Having sustained a work related back injury requiring surgery, I also understand first hand the fear and anxiety associated with work injuries.  Experience matters.

4.  Does the lawyer have a true team to support them? 

Is your lawyer supported by his wife who answers his calls, sorts the mail and types the letters?  Does the lawyer have employees with any relevant personal workers compensation experience?  Does the lawyer even have a "team".  Atkinson Law Office has investigators and paralegals with real relevant experience.  One of our members is a former workers compensation adjuster with a specialty in construction related injuries.  Another member has undergone 2 low back surgeries after falling off a ladder at her prior employer.  ALL of attorneys Kerry Atkinson, Dana Gerber and Tom Atkinson are FORMER insurance company lawyers who know the secrets that insurance companies don't want you to know.  Because we are often in court or depositions, our staff works as a team to assist you with answers to your questions.  You are free to contact ANY of our staff to assist you should another member be unavailable at the time of your call.  Our combined experiences have combined to create one of the most formidable workers compensation law firms in Minnesota.  Experience matters.

5.  Has the lawyer ever been disciplined? 

 Lawyers can make mistakes, but when they make serious mistakes they can be disciplined by the Minnesota Supreme Court.  This link will assist you searching your lawyers background.

Injured At Work? Find An Expert Minnesota Workers Compensation Attorney Today!

Minnesota workers compensation laws require that your employer pay for work comp insurance to provide you protection from any and all work injuries regardless of fault.  These benefits include the lost wages, medical benefits, retraining and monetary compensation for permanent injuries.   Unfortunately, many employers and insurance companies subject injured workers like yourself to the strategy of ignore, delay and deny.   You need a lawyer who knows how counter these tactics.  The lawyers at Atkinson Law Office and Minnesota Disability regularly take workers' comp claims to hearing in order to obtain the wage loss, medical benefits, permanent partial disability awards and other available benefits on behalf of Minnesotan's like you who suffer work injuries. 

In fact, every single day our office receives calls from injured workers.  Most don't want to call, but they feel forced to by an action or inaction of their employer and a workers compensation insurance company.  Please recognize that you are not alone and we are happy to assist you with answers to your questions.  You will not be shamed, forced to "sign up", or in any other way manipulated to have our firm represent just for calling for advice.  In fact, I strongly believe that there must be a sense of trust with us before you hire us.  I'm more than willing to provide you with the name of other great work comp lawyers in our area to assist you should you simply feel that Atkinson Law Office is not the best fit for you.  There are only a handful of lawyers in Minnesota who limit their practices to representing injured workers.  Thomas Atkinson with Atkinson Law Office and Minnesota Disability is one of the few. 

Our initial meeting is always FREE and there is never, ever a fee paid to our office unless we obtain disputed benefits on your behalf.  And even then, we are always paid directly by the insurance company.  You will never write a check to Atkinson Law Office or Minnesota Disability.  For a free consultation, call us today at 651-333-3636.

Workers Compensation Claims Adjuster, Sedgwick, Faces Criminal Charges For Workers Death.

Sedgwick is not an insurance company.  Companies hire Sedgwick to "administer" Minnesota workers compensation programs.  This means Sedgwick and companies like them often make poor decisions that are responsible thousands of claims I have handled over the years.  Unfortunately Sedgwicks recent denials in a workers compensation case led to the death of an injured workers. 

On October 25, 2006, a workers’ compensation judge issued an amended findings and award, ruling that the MRSA infection was a “compensable consequence” of the employee's work injury. Under the courts Order, Sedgwick was required to pay for all reasonable expenses related to medically treating the infection.  Apparently feeling above the law, Sedgwick ignored the judge’s order and continued to deny and delay employee’s treatment.  Unfortunately after numerous hospitalizations, the employee's condition continued to deteriorate, leading to his death on May 2, 2008.  He died as the result of cardiorespiratory arrest, respiratory failure, and pneumonia, all caused by his health care-associated MRSA infection and related medical conditions.

An audit conducted by the state workers compensation investigative unit charged that Sedgwick demonstrated “blithe disregard for its legal and ethical obligations and a callous indifference to the catastrophic consequences of its delays, inaction and outright neglect.”  The District Attorney’s Office is exploring whether to file criminal charges against Sedgwick Claims Management Services and the claims adjuster who handled the case.

Minnesota workers compensation injuries are not a game to the injured worker.  I recently had a new client with a fractured heal have his leg amputated because the employer forced him to work outside of his restrictions in order to keep his job.  The employee subsequently developed an infection similar to the employee in the above case and lost his leg before contacting our office.  Don't let this be you!

Do NOT wait until tragedy strikes you and your family.  If you have suffered what appears to be even a minor injury call an experienced workers compensation lawyer.  Ask them how many years they have been practicing law AND handling workers compensation cases.  I have personally handled thousands of cases over 20 years.  There is no fee to speak to me or my staff and should you need to retain me, you pay the same fee as a lawyer with 5 years experience.  Common sense will tell you that experience matters.  Contact us today at 651-333-3636 and visit us at www.mndisability.com  There is NEVER a fee unless we recover benefits for you.

Why Is My MN Work Comp Adjuster Asking About My Facebook Account?

I have written and lectured about Facebook, Mylife and other forms of social media for years.  More and more often, whether my clients are aware of it or not, insurance adjusters, employers and insurance company lawyers are looking you up on Facebook.

I had a client in my office today and I asked her how her ski trip was this weekend and she looked at me wondering how in the world I knew her family went skiing.  I turned my computer around and showed her pictures from her Facebook, her husband's Facebook and her childrens' Facebook accounts.  Now the pictures didn't show my client skiing or failing to follow her restrictions, but I got my client's attention.  Facebook is often better than surveillance videos because you and your friends are posting the pictures and photographs rather than a creepy investigator.

Can a Minnesota workers compensation judge allow the admission of photographs from your Facebook account?  There are no appealate decisions to guide us at this point but let me share with you what a workers compensation judge in another state recently did.

An Arkansas workers compensation appeals court ruled that photos on Facebook and Myspace of a man “drinking and partying” could be used as evidence to deny him further workers compensation claims.  At the center of the suit is  Zackery Clement, who suffered a hernia on March 12, 2009 after a refrigerator fell on him while on the job at Johnson’s Warehouse Showroom in Pine Bluff,  Ark.  Keep in mind this was an admitted work injury.  Clement, who was compensated for medical expenses and received temporary total-disability benefits for more than a year, was seeking an extension of benefits following three surgeries as a result of the injury.

In an opinion, written by Judge David M. Glover, the Arkansas Court of Appeals states: “We find no abuse of discretion in the allowance of photographs. Clement contended that he was in excruciating pain, but these pictures show him drinking and partying.”

The lesson to be learned is NEVER EVER lie.  If your doctor tells you NOT to perform certain activites be sure to testify truthfully if you disobey your doctor.  We all want to live our lives and share activities with our loved ones and families.  Just don't exaggerate or lie about your symptoms or ability to perform non work activities.  When you have a serious work related injury doing so will often result in consequences such as slower recoveries or increased pain.  My suggestion is that you "lock down" you Facebook or turn it off.  You will be shocked by the extra time you have when you don't need to be updating your status, location or activities every few minutes.

If you have sustained a work related injury and have questions or concerns about your claim, Atkinson Law Office and Minnesota Disability offer free consultations at suburban office locations with free parking, hot coffee, cold beverages and a staff with decades of experience handling Minnesota workers compensation cases. Call our office today at 651-333-3636 for a free consultation and feel free to visit our website for additional information regarding your Minnesota Workers Compensation injury.

NOPLD - What Does The Notice Of Primary Liability Determination Mean?

The Notice of Insurer's Primary Liability Determination form is filed with the state by the insurer, showing whether the insurer accepts or denies a claim. This form contains important information for the injured worker to know, including:  the claim number, the insurance adjuster's name and phone number, the employee's average weekly wage, the compensation rate, if or when benefits will be initiated, and the specific reason and facts supporting any denial of liability.

I can't emphasis the importance of contacting an attorney IMMEDIATELY after you receive a NOPLD.  There are strict rules on how much time you have to fight or appeal this decision.  The attorneys at Minnesota Disability and Atkinson Law Office have handled thousands of cases over the past two decades and have the expertise to assist with your claim.  Keep a copy of this form for your records.

The attorneys at Atkinson Law Office and Minnesota Disability will file a claim petition, the only remedy, to contest the denial of your claim.  Do not delay.  Our office will offer a free legal consultation to assist in coming up with a plan to get the benefits you deserve.  651-333-3636 where your calls are answered 24/7 every day of the year and we represent clients throughout the entire state of Minnesota. 

What I Need to Know About Minnesota Workers Compensation Hearings.

Our lawyers have represented thousands of clients at workers compensation hearings at the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings.  Over the past 30 years the location of these hearings, the judges, and some of the procedures and formats have changed.  Despite these changes there are some facts that remain the same.  Workers compensation hearings are heard by experienced workers compensation judges NOT juries.  The judges work harder now than ever before with more pressures then ever to move cases quickly to resolution.  Without exception workers compensation judges are professional and courteous to all parties and I'm confident they do their very best in light of the hurdles they face.  We can disagree with their decisions from time to time, but I can assure my clients that our current workers compensation judges take YOUR case very seriously and will consider all the facts and apply the law to the best of their ability when your cases goes to hearing.

In preparing for a hearing keep in mind that one of the key criteria a judge considers is whether YOU and the other party are credible.  If you are credible, there is a strong chance you will prevail.  To this end ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS tell the truth.  You are human and can surely forget particular facts but if you are caught in a "lie", your case may have become a herculean task for your attorney.  Like many attorneys, I have no interest in representing untruthful clients.  I can assure you there are lawyers out there who will, but at Atkinson Gerber Law Office we would rather put our reputation and hard work into representing the vast majority of those we meet; injured workers like you who want to be made as "whole" as the system will allow.

On the day of your hearing it's important to be on time, turn off your cell phone, act professional, and be prepared to team with your lawyer to WIN!  At Atkinson Law Office we are never afraid to take a case to hearing in order for you to obtain the best result possible.  If you have sustained a work injury contact Tom Atkinson or one of the attorneys with Atkinson Law Office and Minnesota Disability today for an absolutely free consultation.  We represent injured workers across the entire state of Minnesota and across the country who have been injured in Minnesota OR working outside the state of Minnesota for Minnesota companies.  651-333-3636 or call Tom directly on his cell phone at 651-324-9514.  www.mndisability.com

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.