Working in an oil refinery is one of the most dangerous jobs out there. There are many reasons why this is so, including the fact that employees work around toxic and flammable chemicals. Because of this, there are plenty of rules and regulations surrounding the...
Workers’ Compensation
Are assaults against hospital workers on the rise in Minnesota?
Workplace violence is rising in many industries, and the medical industry has experienced significant increases. From September 2021 to September 2022, healthcare workers experienced a 57% increase, but from March 2021, the increase was well over 100%. In fact, over...
Can I get workers’ compensation for a dog bite?
When people think of workplace injuries, they often imagine falls or heavy equipment accidents. However, animal attacks can also present a common workplace hazard, particularly for those who work outdoors or in the service industry. If a dog bites you while you are on...
Can I get workers’ compensation for a cold weather-related injury?
Residents of Minnesota have to contend with bitterly cold winters. While many grow accustomed to and enjoy the snowy season, safety remains a concern. Cold weather safety and injuries should be a matter of consideration for workers whose occupations put them in the...
Do employers pay an injured employee’s attorney fees in a workers’ compensation claim?
In Minnesota, employees might win repayment for attorney fees in a workers’ compensation case. The Minnesota Supreme Court determined this on November 30, 2022, in the case of Lagasse v. Horton et al. The case involved an injured employee, Larry Horton. The...
Common injuries suffered by healthcare workers
Nurses are subject to a variety of health hazards and injuries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020 saw an unprecedented 78,740 nonfatal workplace illnesses and injuries for nurses. Though this number will likely decrease in the future, it...
Surprisingly dangerous jobs in Minnesota
When you think of a dangerous job, you generally think about police officers and first responders such as firefighters. This is not necessarily true in Minnesota. Here are the four most dangerous jobs in Minnesota. 1. Farming Farming deaths account for more than...
Does workers’ compensation cover alternative medicine?
Accidents resulting in severe injuries happen on the job every day across the country. The purpose of workers' compensation is to ensure the injured worker has access to medical care. However, policies do not have to provide access to alternative medicine. What is...
Can workers’ compensation deny my surgery?
When a work-related injury happens that requires surgery, you expect workers’ compensation to provide financial relief. Minnesota statutes state that employers must provide surgical treatment if reasonably required to relieve or cure the injury’s effect....
Who decides when an injured worker has reached maximum medical improvement in Minnesota?
Maximum medical improvement refers to the point where a patient will not likely heal any further from an injury, either physically or emotionally. This term is often used when determining workers' compensation, or the money that an employer owes an employee after the...