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.

Falling Concrete Killed Excavation Worker at New St. Paul Ballpark Site.

Though I often Blog about work injuries, occasionally their are horrific tragedy such as todays death of a union heavy equipment operator in St. Paul.  As reported in the Minneapolis StarTribune today,

"A worker sitting in the cab of a backhoe was killed Tuesday morning when concrete fell on him during demolition at the site of a new ballpark in St. Paul a construction executive said.

The death of John Valek, 61, of Plymouth, occurred about 8 a.m. while he and others were tearing down and clearing the site of the old Gillette/Diamond Products building, a former 650,000-square-foot factory in Lowertown St. Paul.

“As heavy equipment operators were demolishing a building, a portion of the concrete structure supporting the building fell onto the cab of one of the backhoes involved in the demolition work,” Collin Barr, president of the Midwest region for general contractor Ryan Cos. said in a statement issued about 8 hours after the incident. “The accident resulted in the death of Johnny Valek.”

Excavation began in July at the site in the 300 block of 5th Street, near Interstate 94 and Hwy. 52, and was slated to last four months.

Fire Marshal Steve Zaccard described Valek’s death as sudden and came when he was hit by a piece of concrete measuring roughly 10 feet by 30 feet.  The excavation work was being done by Rachel Contracting, of St. Michael, Minn. Executives with the subcontractor were not immediately available to comment.

Randy Valek said his brother had more than 25 years of experience in construction. He said his brother had recently talked about what a tough job this demolition was.

“You got to watch out any time you’re around any equipment,” Randy Valek said.

At Atkinson Law Office we have handle many such death cases.  One would think that these cases are straightforward, but often issues arise as to dependency benefits, spousal retraining benefits, and death benefits.  If you or a loved one sustains a work related injury, one of our very experience lawyers is waiting to assist you.  Call today at 651-333-3636 or visit us at www.mndisability.com