Sauk Rapids Workers' Compensation Law Blog

The purpose of workers' compensation is to help injured parties cover medical and living expenses while they recover from their injuries. Workers' compensation is not supposed to serve as a long-term source of income. However, Minnesota workers' comp law does allow harmed workers to recover permanent total disability benefits if they are never able to return to gainful employment. If your injuries have left you disabled and unable to work, you may qualify for PTD.

According to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, you may be able to recover PTD if your injury or occupational illness results in the loss of both arms at the shoulder; loss of eyesight in both eyes; loss of both legs so close to the hip that you cannot use prosthetics; total and permanent loss of mental facilities; and/or complete or permanent paralysis. You may also be able to recover PTD if your condition hinders your ability to work at any occupation and if you fit into one of the three following categories:

•       You have a 17 percent permanent partial disability rating over your entire body
•       You have a 15 percent PPD rating over your entire body and were 50 years old at the time of injury
•       You have a 13 percent PPD rating, were at least 55 years old at the time of injury and you do not possess a GED or high school diploma

In the workplace, many different things can go wrong, and violations take various forms. For example, an employee may be subjected to a wage and hour violation, such as unpaid overtime, or they could experience discrimination on the basis of their gender or age. However, workplace accidents are especially problematic, and these incidents can create many different challenges for employers and those who work for the company as well. An employee may lose the ability to work, resulting in lost wages, and they may also be facing an incredible amount of pain and financial problems due to medical costs.

Safety is a high priority at many Minnesota workplaces. If your job involves frequent lifting, it is important to use proper lifting techniques to prevent an injury.

Proper lifting techniques are more important than you may think. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, one of the main reasons people get hurt at work is because they lifted an object incorrectly. People can easily harm their elbows or wrists or pull a muscle when they do not pay attention to how they lift objects at work and it is a good idea for you to correct your lifting techniques so you do not get hurt.

While some jobs in Minnesota involve greater risk than others due to the physical demands involved, we at Lindberg Law recognize that workplace injuries can happen anywhere, in all types of workplaces. Even those who perform sedentary desk jobs are not immune; the injuries associated with them may be different yet still have the potential to prevent you from performing your job duties effectively. 

If you do become injured at your desk job, you have the same rights as every other employee to seek workers' compensation. However, according to Monster.com, there are steps you can take to prevent office injuries from occurring in the first place.