If you’ve been injured at work in Minnesota, understanding the reporting timelines is crucial to ensure your eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits. This guide will equip you with the knowledge you need to navigate the process effectively, particularly if you’re in St. Paul, MN.
Key Reporting Deadlines in Minnesota
Minnesota workers’ compensation laws have specific deadlines for reporting a work injury to your employer. Here’s a breakdown of these crucial timelines:
1. Within 14 Days
If you report your injury to your employer within 14 days, your notice is considered timely. This is the safest window to avoid any complications with your workers’ compensation claim.
2. Fifteen to 30 Days
Reporting within this period allows your employer to deny your claim for late notice only if they can prove they were prejudiced by the delay.
3. Thirty-One to 180 Days
If you report your injury between 31 and 180 days, your claim might be denied unless the delay was due to:
- Your mistake, inadvertence, ignorance of fact or law, or inability to give notice
- Fraud, misrepresentation, or deceit by your employer or their agent
In these cases, your employer must demonstrate how the delay prejudiced them to deny benefits.
4. More Than 180 Days
Reporting beyond 180 days typically disqualifies you from receiving benefits unless you were mentally or physically incapacitated. In such cases, you must notify your employer within 180 days after the incapacity ceases.
Exceptions and Additional Considerations
Actual Knowledge by Employer
If your employer has actual knowledge of your injury — for example, if your supervisor witnessed the incident — you are not required to provide additional notice. It’s wise, however, to formally document the incident to avoid disputes later.
Gradual Injuries
For injuries that develop over time, such as repetitive strain injuries, you should report to your employer within 180 days from when the injury becomes apparent or likely to cause disability.
Filing a Claim in St. Paul, MN
Filing a workers’ compensation claim in St. Paul involves additional steps after reporting your injury:
First Report of Injury (FROI)
Your employer must submit the First Report of Injury (FROI) to their insurance company within 10 days of your injury, and the insurer must then file it with Minnesota’s Department of Labor and Industry within 14 days.
Insurer’s Liability Determination
Once the FROI is filed, the insurer has 14 days to decide on your claim. If accepted, wage-loss benefits should start within this period if you’re unable to work for more than three days.
Denied Claims
If your claim is denied, the insurer must provide reasons. You can then file a Claim Petition within three years from when the FROI was filed or within six years from the injury date if no FROI was filed.
Contacting Frayne Injury Law
Navigating these processes can be daunting. At Frayne Injury Law, we support injured workers in St. Paul to ensure their claims are handled correctly and timely. If you need assistance, contact us for a free consultation. We’re here to guide you through each step of your workers’ compensation journey.
Remember, timely reporting and understanding your rights can make a significant difference in the outcome of your claim. Reach out to us for expert guidance tailored to your situation in St. Paul, MN.
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To help us best serve your inquiry, we recommend that you complete our work comp intake form: Click here. You may also email or call us to make an appointment. Our general response time is one business day.
