More Than 20 Years Of Experience Standing Up For Minnesota Workers

Denied Workers’ Compensation? Benefits Cut Off? You Have Options.

No mistake about it: A denied workers’ compensation claim is a tough blow. It is terribly discouraging to suffer a workplace injury, only to be denied the benefits you are rightfully owed. Unfortunately, workers’ compensation claim denials are extremely common. Employees and their workers’ compensation insurers will look for any reason to say that an injured worker is ineligible for benefits.

The Law Office of Gretchen Hall can help if this happens to you. Our attorney, Gretchen Hall, has fought for injured workers in St. Paul and throughout Minnesota for over 20 years. Gretchen used to be an insurance defense attorney, so she not only is well aware of insurance companies’ tricks to deny benefits but also knows how to counter these with reason, skill and tenacity.

Common Reasons For Workers’ Compensation Claim Denials

If your workers’ compensation claim was denied, you should have received a Notice of Insurer’s Primary Liability Determination. This document establishes the facts of your claim and provides information on why it was denied.

While workers’ comp claims are denied for many reasons, the following six are among the most common.

You Were Not Injured At Work

While employers and their insurers will have a hard time denying a claim involving an accident that was witnessed at work, many work injuries are the result of repetitive stress over time. In these and other cases where there was not a clearly defined time of injury, claims are frequently rejected.

You Made A Mistake In Your Report Or On Your Claim

There are many important details to include when reporting a work injury or filing a workers’ compensation claim. If there are any discrepancies or inconsistencies, they may provide a basis for denial of the claim.

You Missed The Deadline

There are deadlines in Minnesota for reporting and filing workers’ compensation claims. If you allegedly miss a deadline, your claim may be denied.

You Are An Independent Contractor

In Minnesota, independent contractors do not qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. You may have options for securing benefits, though, if you are an employee who has been misclassified as an independent contractor.

You Skipped The Independent Medical Examination (IME)

You may have skipped the IME because your employer and their insurance company purchased it. Yet, what the doctor discovers during an IME is crucial for establishing a need for benefits.

You Did Not Provide Appropriate Medical Documentation

Without proper medical documentation, you may have difficulty establishing your injury. Without establishing your injury, you may be denied the workers’ comp benefits you need.

If you were denied workers’ compensation benefits for any of these reasons or if you were receiving benefits and you believe they were cut off prematurely, contact a lawyer immediately at 651-371-6008. At The Law Office of Gretchen Hall, we have a positive reputation for overcoming these roadblocks for injured workers in St. Paul and throughout Minnesota.

Injuries That Qualify For Workers’ Comp

What serious injury did you suffer on the job? A fall injury, a burn injury, a slow-developing back, neck or shoulder injury, or something else? You may have suffered psychological injuries after witnessing some type of violence at work. Now you struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but you do not have access to the medical care you need to get better and get back to work.

Whatever the case may be, there are options for appealing the denied claim. An attorney at our Twin Cities law firm can guide you through that process.

Don’t Lose Out On The Benefits You Deserve

Perhaps your workers’ compensation claim was addressed at first, but now your employer’s insurer has denied coverage for treatment you need or has discontinued your benefits. While workers’ compensation benefits are typically intended to be temporary relief for injured workers, sometimes they are cut off too soon. You can fight to have your benefits restored. An experienced lawyer can help.

In some cases, benefits are discontinued because the initial claim has been reviewed and now your employer or their insurer believes the condition was preexisting or did not happen at work. In other cases, benefits are cut off because the workers’ compensation doctor says that you are better and can return to work. In some cases, this may mean returning to work on light duty.

Thankfully, for many of our clients at The Law Office of Gretchen Hall in St. Paul, we have helped many injured workers get past obstacles like these. We are ready to walk beside you through all phases of fighting the denial or discontinuation of benefits that you need. At our law firm, your pain and concerns are real and will be heard. We welcome the opportunity to explain how we can help you starting right now.

Appealing Denied And Discontinued Workers’ Compensation Benefits

You do not have to accept a denied claim or discontinued benefits. With an attorney’s guidance, you can file an appeal with the Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals. In Minnesota, appealing denied or discontinued workers’ compensation benefits must be done within 30 days of receiving notice.

Once your appeal is filed, you and your attorney will attend a hearing, where you will make your case through oral arguments and evidence. The Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals will issue a decision on your case within 90 days of your hearing.

Appealing denied or discontinued benefits can have several different outcomes. There is a chance the initial decision will be reversed, and you will be approved for workers’ comp benefits. Yet the initial decision could also be upheld or remanded (which would require further judicial review); there is always a chance, too, that a cross-appeal may be filed during your case, creating further challenges to securing benefits. At The Law Office of Gretchen Hall, we can help you navigate around these obstacles and any others that may arise during your case.

The First Step Is The Most Important: Set Up A Free Consultation

Looking for a lawyer is an excellent first step; we commend you for watching out for yourself. Our workers’ compensation lawyer and our legal staff are ready to watch out for you, too.

Please don’t put it off any longer: Call 651-371-6008 or send an email inquiry, and let us tell you how we can get your appeal or another remedy underway. We look forward to hearing from you and offering a path to relief.