If you are injured on the job in Minnesota, it’s important to report the injury to your employer promptly. Reporting the injury serves several purposes, including reducing the likelihood that your employer will claim the injury occurred at home or elsewhere. It also starts the process of seeking workers’ compensation benefits.
But how quickly must you make this report? There are a few specific deadlines to keep in mind:
14 days
It’s best to report your injury within 14 days. By doing so, your report is considered on time, and your employer cannot deny your workers’ compensation claim on the grounds of late notice.
30 days
If you miss the 14-day window but still report the injury within 30 days, your claim may still be valid. However, your employer could deny the claim, arguing that the late notice impacted their ability to investigate or process it. In such cases, they must demonstrate that the delay caused harm to the claim.
180 days
Even if you miss the 30-day window, you may still have up to 180 days to file your claim. However, reporting this late increases the likelihood that your employer will deny it.
Exceptions exist for cases where it was impossible to report the injury on time. For example, if you suffered a traumatic brain injury and were in a coma for 40 days, you would not be penalized for filing late. On the other hand, if the delay was simply due to neglect, your employer is more likely to deny the claim.
Seeking proper benefits
Regardless of when you file your claim, there’s always a chance that your employer may seek to deny it, complicating the process. Be sure to understand the legal steps you need to take to secure the workers’ compensation benefits you deserve.