Hibbing Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

Hibbing Workers' Compensation Lawyer

If you suffer an injury or illness in connection with your work in Hibbing, you most likely have rights under Minnesota worker’s compensation laws to receive valuable financial benefits. Workers’ comp pays for your medical care and replaces a portion of your income if you are temporarily or permanently unable to return to work.

Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers represents Hibbing-area workers in legal actions and insurance claims seeking workers’ compensation benefits. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn about your rights.

Results for Our Clients With Workplace Injuries & Illnesses

We want to help you get your workers’ compensation benefits so that you receive the medical care and financial support you need to stay afloat during this difficult time of your life.

Our experienced team of attorneys and legal professionals has years of experience helping sick and injured workers’ like you prepare, file, and pursue workers’ compensation claims and appeals of claim denials.

Examples of the results we can often achieve for workers include:

• Obtaining medical and wage benefits for a young worker who suffers from overuse back injuries due to the demands of physical labor;
• Overturning a denial of benefits for a worker’s foot injury and getting her permanent disability benefits and medical coverage; and
• Holding an employer accountable for failing to report an injury and almost costing an injured worker his benefits, and getting the worker the benefits to which he was entitled.

Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers cannot guarantee a favorable outcome in every workers’ compensation case we take. But we routinely achieve the kinds of results described above, and more, for workers who sustain injuries and illnesses on the job.

The Danger of Work-related Injuries & Illnesses

It’s impossible to predict if and when you may suffer an injury or illness in connection with your job in Hibbing. Some people can go their whole working life without suffering so much as a scratch at work. But some Hibbing-area workers, especially (but by no means exclusively) those employed in labor-intensive or high-risk jobs, can easily end up with devastating injuries and debilitating illnesses that leave them in pain, unable to work, and uncertain about their future.

An injury or illness on the job can happen in countless workplace scenarios and settings. Even if you take all appropriate safety measures to protect yourself, you could still fall victim to an accident, injury, or toxic exposure.

From office buildings to construction sites, hazards to your safety and health lurk in any work setting, and may include:

• Dangerous property conditions;
• Unsafe practices;
• Lack of safety equipment;
• Inadequate training and supervision;
• Hazardous or toxic materials;
• Exposure to open flames or flammable substances;
• Air and noise pollution;
• Repetitive stresses; and
• Heavy machinery.

This is just a tiny sampling of potential hazards someone might face on the job in Hibbing, of course. Workplace accidents are common. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), at least 2.8 million people suffer a non-fatal injury or illness each year while at work.

Your Risk of a Work Injury in Hibbing

A significant portion of Minnesota’s economy depends on the workers in industries such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and mining. Unfortunately, those same industries see a relatively high number of injuries every year, because of their inherent dangers and physical demands.

The Minnesota Department of Labor reports that of the nearly 100 deaths that take place in a workplace accident each year, the top industries where these deaths take place include the industries mentioned above.

But workers in virtually any sector of the Minnesota economy can suffer injuries and illnesses, including those in:

• Agriculture and forestry
• Fishing and hunting
• Transportation and warehouse jobs
• Manufacturing
• Retail
• Administrative and support roles
• Wholesale
• Healthcare
• Government
• Services
• Art and recreation
• Professional services
• Hospitality and food services

At Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, we represent workers in workers’ compensation matters in virtually every sector of the Minnesota economy. No matter whether you suffered harm on the job doing manual labor or sitting at a desk, our team has the experience and know-how to get you the workers’ compensation insurance benefits to which you are entitled under Minnesota law.

Common Injuries in the Workplace

You can sustain just about any type of injury in the workplace, from minor to potentially fatal. Workplace injuries can occur suddenly or can develop over time due to the nature of your work and its physical requirements.

If you sustain a sudden injury, you may need workers’ compensation benefits to pay for emergency medical care, surgery, hospitalization, and the wages you lost while out of work. For illnesses and chronic conditions that develop over time, you may face difficulty obtaining a diagnosis of your condition that links it to your work.

At Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, we can help Hibbing workers no matter what kind of injuries or illnesses they suffer in connection with their jobs.

We routinely help our clients obtain workers’ comp benefits to pay for the costs of:

• Broken bones or fractures
• Crush injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Joint injuries
• Repetitive stress injuries
• Overuse injuries
• Injuries to the spinal cord
• Burns
• Electrical shock injuries
• Chronic pain
• Amputation
• Vision or hearing impairment
• Torn ligaments, tendons, or muscles
• Nerve damage
• Illness due to short or long-term toxic exposures

Contact a member of our team to discuss your work-related injury or illness, and how we can help get the workers’ comp benefits you need to heal from your condition and rebuild your life.

Workers' Compensation Requirements in Minnesota

Most workers in Hibbing have the right to receive workers’ compensation benefits after sustaining a work-related injury or illness. Minnesota law requires virtually all Hibbing-area employers to carry worker’s compensation insurance coverage for their employees.

Workers’ compensation covers employees for their work-related injuries and illnesses regardless of fault. That means that, in most cases, you have the right to receive workers’ comp benefits even if your actions contributed to the cause of your injury or illness.

Any employer who violates the requirement to carry worker’s compensation coverage faces fines and other punishments imposed by the government, and will also likely have a legal liability to employees for their work-related injuries and illnesses.

At Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, we can help Hibbing-area workers obtain benefits and compensation even if their employer does not carry workers' compensation insurance as required by law.

Hibbing Workers' Compensation Benefits

The purpose of a worker’s compensation is to provide injured or sick workers with medical coverage and to give them financial support when they cannot work.

Under Minnesota law, you may have the right to receive:

• Wage benefits - If you are unable to work because of your work-related injury or illness, workers’ compensation will pay a portion (up to two-thirds) of your lost wages. You may also have the right to receive wage benefits if a work-related injury or illness limits the work you can do or the number of hours you can work.
• Medical benefits - Worker’s compensation insurance generally covers all reasonable and necessary expenses for treating your work-related injury or illness. This includes the cost of medical care, medical equipment, and medication you need to heal and live with your injury or illness, such as for hospitalization, surgery, chiropractic, podiatric, or mental health services. You may also have the right to receive benefits to help pay for transportation, medical testing, and other expenses that accrue as you undergo medical care.
• Vocational rehabilitation benefits - If a work-related injury or illness prevents you from continuing to work in your prior position or field of work, you may have the right to receive vocational rehabilitation benefits that assist you in training for and finding replacement employment suitable for your current health condition.
• Death benefits - In the tragic event of a fatal work-related injury or illness, Minnesota workers’ comp entitles certain surviving family members to receive financial support to replace a portion of their loved one’s income. Standard death benefits also include an amount for reasonable funeral and burial expenses.

The degree of medical care and financial support you may receive from workers’ comp depends upon factors that take the nature and severity of your injury or illness, your pre-injury/illness income, the duration of disability, and other factors into account. Speak to the team at Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers today to learn about the probable types and amounts of workers’ compensation benefits you can expect to receive through making a successful workers’ comp claim.

Other Financial Liability for Work-Related Injuries & Illnesses

In most cases, your right to receive workers’ compensation insurance benefits paid for by your employer takes the place of your right to sue your employer for damages after suffering a work-related injury or illness. Your employer will generally not have further legal liability to you, unless your employer fails to carry workers’ comp insurance coverage as required by Minnesota law, or if your employer intentionally puts you in harm’s way.

But that doesn’t mean you are always limited to workers’ comp benefits to pay for your care and financial losses. Sometimes, the unreasonably dangerous conduct of a third party (someone other than your employer or a co-worker) contributes to the cause of your work-related injury or illness. In those cases, you may have the right to sue that third party for damages.

For example, if you got hurt on the job because you used defective equipment, the manufacturer of that equipment may have financial liability to you. With the help of an experienced attorney, you may have the right to take legal action against that manufacturer seeking damages over and above your workers’ comp benefits.

That additional compensation may include payment for:

• Full loss of income - Worker’s compensation claims generally only cover a portion of your income losses. In a third-party lawsuit, you may seek to recover the remainder of the income you lost because of your work-related injury or illness.
• Non-medical expenses - Workers’ comp may not cover the cost of all the expenses you incur because of your injury or illness. For example, an injury or illness may prevent you from engaging in day-to-day activities, like cooking, cleaning, or driving, and you may need to hire someone to help out. In a third-party lawsuit, you may have the right to seek damages to help you pay for those services.
• Pain and suffering - Worker’s compensation insurance does not compensate you for your pain, suffering, and other life difficulties you face, even though the impact of those challenges far exceeds the financial cost of your injury or illness. Through a third-party lawsuit, you may have the ability to seek compensation for those so-called “non-economic” damages.
• Punitive damages - If a third party showed deliberate disregard for your rights or safety in causing your work-related injury or illness, Minnesota law may entitle you to seek additional financial damages as punishment for that misconduct.

At Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers in Hibbing, we investigate our clients’ cases thoroughly to identify any third party who may owe our client damages in addition to their workers’ compensation benefits. Our mission in every case is to get our clients the maximum compensation available to them under Minnesota law.

Workers' Compensation Lawyers In Hibbing

Working for a living comes with many challenges. It can be difficult to balance your work responsibilities with your responsibilities at home. No matter how hectic things get, we always look forward to getting back home. But what if one day you ended up in the hospital instead of going home? What if an injury at work left you unable to pay for the roof over your family’s head? This is the reality for injured workers in Hibbing.

It is crucial to understand your rights and have a strong advocate on your side if you have suffered a work-related injury. In Hibbing and surrounding Iron Range communities, you can turn to the proven local lawyers at Nicolet Law to fight for the full workers’ compensation benefits you need to make ends meet. We will make sure you have the resources you need to cover your lost wages and medical benefits so you can focus on getting better and being there for your loved ones.

“I'm not really comfortable with the idea of going after my boss or coworkers.”

The good news is you can get the benefits you need without harming your company or coworkers. We understand that, in our tight-knit community, the idea of potentially harming the ability of our friends and neighbors to make a living is troubling. Workers’ compensation benefits come from workers’ compensation insurance that employers are required to carry in order to make sure their workers are protected in the event of an on-the-job injury.

Unfortunately, the insurance companies will go to great lengths to protect their own bottom lines at the expense of injured workers. Our attorneys know the games they will play and are ready to fight for the full benefits you deserve. We can level the playing field and make sure you are not hurt a second time as a result of insurance company greed.

Skilled Representation For All Injured Workers In Hibbing

Whether you work in a mine, a retail store or an office building, you can rely on our experienced team to make sure you have what you need to recover from your injury and keep your bills paid. We pursue claims involving all types of workplace injuries, including:

• Repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome
• Burn injuries, including chemical burns
• Back and spinal cord injuries
• Shoulder injuries
• Joint injuries including knee, ankle and hip injuries
• Hearing loss and vision loss
• Depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Workers' Compensation Isn’t Always Enough

One thing workers’ compensation benefits won’t cover is compensation for your pain and suffering. If you were injured by a third party, such as another driver in a car crash while you were driving for work, a personal injury claim can bridge that gap. We can handle any third-party personal injury claims in addition to pursuing your workers’ compensation benefits. This is all at no cost to you since we only collect a fee once we collect compensation and benefits for you.

How We Help Injured or Ill Workers in Hibbing

Many workers mistakenly assume that if they suffer an injury or illness on the job, they can easily apply for and receive worker’s compensation benefits. But getting maximum benefits isn’t always straightforward. Workers’ comp insurance companies regularly deny or limit claims, and workers face long odds in appealing a claim denial if they don’t have a skilled attorney on their side.

If you suffered an injury or illness that you believe is related to your job in Hibbing, we strongly encourage you to contact a skilled workers’ compensation attorney as soon as possible. The sooner you get a lawyer involved in the process of seeking workers’ comp benefits and third-party liability compensation, the better your chances of receiving every last penny to which Minnesota law entitles you.
Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers represent Minnesotans who suffer work-related injuries and illnesses. We have a strong track record of getting results in even the toughest workers’ comp cases. Contact us online or call our Hibbing office at (218) 217-0659 for your free case consultation with a member of our workers’ compensation team.

It is important to act quickly to protect your rights. Call us today at 218-217-0659 or email us to schedule your free initial consultation.