Minnesota Workers' Compensation Lawyer

An on-the-job injury can end your shift in seconds, but the aftershocks can follow for months. Whether you work in a warehouse in St. Cloud, a hospital in Duluth, or a roofing team in Rochester, getting hurt at work flips your priorities overnight: from getting the job done to getting through the next day.

Minnesota workers’ compensation laws are supposed to protect you. They were designed to cover medical costs, wage loss, and ongoing disability when an injury makes working harder or impossible. But real life rarely plays out as cleanly as the statute.

Delays. Denials. Pressure from employers. Lowball offers from insurers. When those problems show up, Meshbesher & Spence steps in.

Since 1961, we’ve represented Minnesotans injured on the job—construction workers, nurses, electricians, refinery workers, EMTs, and caretakers. We fight to make sure your injury doesn’t go ignored, your benefits don’t get cut, and your work doesn’t cost you your future.

Call (612) 339-9121 or message us online for a free case review with a Minnesota workers’ comp attorney. 

In this video, attorneys Kristine Wobig and Ashley Biermann walk through what really happens after a Minnesota work injury—what to expect, where delays begin, and how workers’ comp and PERA disability claims actually get resolved.

Whether your claim was denied, delayed, or quietly underpaid, this is the conversation every injured worker should hear.

What Minnesota Workers' Compensation Covers

Under Minnesota law, employers must carry workers’ compensation for almost every employee, with few exceptions. The system covers both sudden injuries and occupational conditions that develop gradually.

Workers’ compensation may provide:

• Medical care and hospital bills;
• Mileage reimbursement for travel to appointments;
• Temporary total or partial wage loss benefits;
• Permanent partial disability (PPD) payments for long-term impairment;
• Permanent total disability (PTD) for workers unable to return to substantial employment;
• Vocational rehab, such as retraining or job placement; and
• Dependency benefits for family members of a worker who died due to a job-related injury.

Coverage begins on the first day of employment. Workers are not required to prove anyone was at fault—only that the injury occurred while performing job duties. However, proving eligibility, value, or medical necessity often becomes a fight with insurers or employers.

“Most people assume the system will take care of them. We see what really happens: treatment denied, pay delayed, and injured workers pushed into bad decisions. That’s where we come in.”

— Ashley Biermann | Attorney, Meshbesher & Spence

The Reality Behind Denied and Delayed Claims

When an injury claim is denied outright, or benefits are delayed, the entire recovery process stalls. This isn’t rare. It’s routine.

Denials frequently involve:

• Disputes over whether the accident happened on the job,
• Pre-existing conditions being blamed instead of workplace activity,
• Claims dismissed due to “improper reporting”,
• Delays caused by insurance companies requesting more documentation, and
• Biased “Independent Medical Evaluations” (IMEs) minimizing your injury.

Our Minnesota workman’s comp attorneys regularly challenge wrongful denials. We obtain second opinions, request hearings before workers’ comp judges, and push for settlements rooted in medical evidence, not corporate cost-saving tactics.

Injured workers recover nearly three times more compensation with legal representation, according to a Martindale-Nolo survey. Contact a Minnesota workers’ compensation lawyer at Meshbesher & Spence—(612) 339-9121 or online to protect your case.

Real Case Results in Minnesota Work Injury Claims

$35.3 Million Jury Verdict

A newly hired factory worker with no formal training operated a box stacking machine on just his third day. The machine malfunctioned and trapped his head, leading to permanent brain damage. Meshbesher & Spence took the case to trial. This remains the largest injury verdict ever awarded in Minnesota.

$2.15 Million Settlement

A maintenance worker at an Anoka manufacturing plant suffered third-degree burns when a sulfuric acid tank valve ruptured during normal use. The tank came from a local distributor who sold defective containers. This settlement covered medical treatment, wage loss, and permanent disability.

Injuries We Commonly Handle in Minnesota Work Comp Claims

Minnesota workers face job-related injuries in every industry across the state. Some conditions happen instantly. Others develop over time.

We frequently represent clients with:

• Back injuries from patient transfers, warehouse lifting, or faulty equipment;
• Traumatic brain injuries from falls, falling tools, and equipment malfunctions;
• Burns and disfigurement from industrial tasks, arc incidents, and raw chemical exposure;
• Joint damage and repetitive stress injuries from assembly lines, packaging facilities, and technical equipment use;
• Crush injuries to hands, feet, or limbs in mechanical or industrial environments; and
• PTSD and other psychological conditions following trauma at work.

These injuries often affect nurses, EMTs, public safety workers, line operators, retail staff, and public employees across the state.

Psychological Injuries in Minnesota: What the Law Recognizes

Under Minnesota workers’ compensation statutes, PTSD is recognized as a work-related injury when clearly tied to a traumatic event. But proving that connection and securing benefits requires medical documentation, expert testimony, and timely filing.

First responders face these challenges more than anyone.

Meshbesher & Spence works with:

• Police officers diagnosed with PTSD after fatal incidents or child death scenes,
• ER nurses struggling with violent trauma they’ve witnessed over time,
• Firefighters exposed to repeated traumatic calls, and
• Security staff subjected to workplace violence.

We help these workers navigate both the psychological injury claim and, in cases involving public sector employees, claim additional benefits through MSRS and PERA disability systems.

Public Sector Disability Claims: PERA & MSRS

If you’re a public safety officer or government employee in Minnesota who was injured or disabled on duty, you may qualify for:

PERA Duty Disability

For police, firefighters, paramedics, and corrections staff enrolled in the Public Employees Retirement Association. This benefit is tax-exempt and includes wage loss and ongoing healthcare benefits.

MSRS Disability

For state employees covered by the Minnesota State Retirement System, including transportation, agency, and university staff.

These claims can be filed alongside or after a workers’ compensation claim, but require precise documentation, and many valid cases get denied the first time. A Minnesota workers’ compensation lawyer knows how to work with both systems and appeal improper denials.

Pre-Existing Conditions: What Minnesotans Should Know

A prior condition does not cancel your right to compensation. Minnesota workers’ compensation covers the injury if workplace duties aggravated or accelerated a medical condition.

This applies to:

• Old back or neck injuries,
• Arthritis aggravated by repetitive use,
• Psychological conditions worsened by trauma, and
• Congenital conditions made worse by lifting or physical tasks,

Don’t assume you’re disqualified. Medical proof can show how the job aggravated the condition beyond its normal course. Our firm works with certified medical experts to document these claims successfully.

Time Limits for Filing in Minnesota

You typically must report a work injury to your employer within 14 days to avoid benefit reductions. After that:

• Workers’ compensation claims must be filed within three years if a First Report of Injury was filed; and
• If no such report exists, the window extends to six years from the date of injury.

Delays in care or benefit denial don’t automatically reset the clock. To preserve a claim, it’s best to consult with a Minnesota worker’s comp lawyer as soon as possible.

Do You Need a Minnesota Workers' Compensation Attorney?

Minnesota allows injured workers to represent themselves. However, insurance companies and defense lawyers understand the system better than most claimants. Mistakes in paperwork, timing, or medical proof can cost you thousands in treatment, recovery funds, or structured benefits.

Consider legal help if:

• Your claim has been denied or delayed,
• You were told an IME says you’re “at MMI” (maximum medical improvement),
• Your benefits stopped unexpectedly,
• You suspect your employer didn’t properly report your injury,
• You need a second medical opinion, or
• You have questions about your long-term eligibility.

What Our Workers' Compensation Attorneys Handle

At Meshbesher & Spence, a Minnesota work injury lawyer will manage your entire case:

• Review all facts about the injury;
• Collect, organize, and review medical records and doctor’s notes;
• Coordinate with experts for testimony;
• File paperwork and documentation with MN DLI;
• Appeal denied claims;
• Represent you at hearings before judges;
• Negotiate settlements on your behalf; and
• Help with third-party claims and MSRS/PERA benefits.

Our goal is simple: to protect your future, income, and medical care while recovering.

Start With a Free Consultation With a Minnesota Work Injury Lawyer

You don’t need to wait for a denial or make sense of it alone. Whether your injury came from a fall, an explosion, a missed diagnosis, or burnout on the job, the Minnesota workers’ compensation system exists to help you recover.

Not everyone plays by the rules. Meshbesher & Spence will be ready when they don’t.

Call us today at (612) 339-9121 or message us online to speak with a Minnesota workers’ comp attorney. Consultations are free. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation.