*The results are conditioned to the unique circumstances of each case. These results do not guarantee your case will result in the same compensation.
Workplace injuries can disrupt your life in an instant. Speaking with a Minneapolis workers’ compensation lawyer who knows how Minnesota law works is critical to protecting your rights. At Schmidt & Salita Law Team, we’re committed to helping Minnetonka workers recover the compensation they deserve when their job leaves them injured or unable to work.
Because we’re a Minnetonka-based firm, we know our community and what working families here need. We handle every case with the respect and personal commitment it deserves. Our legal team brings decades of hands-on experience, trial-tested strategies, and the persistence to stand up for you.
Minnesota Statute §176 governs all Workers’ Compensation claims. This statute allows payment of benefits for injuries arising out of and in the course and scope of employment. These benefits are payable in a variety of ways. This is just an overview. The work comp system is complicated, and you should give the Schmidt & Salita Law Team a call to discuss your claims.
In Minnesota, you don’t need to prove your employer was at fault to qualify for benefits. However, you must show that your work duties significantly contributed to your injury or illness. Employers may argue that an injury didn’t happen on the job or was preexisting.
Supporting your claim often requires medical records, physician statements, work logs, eyewitness accounts, or official reports. These details must align clearly with the incident and diagnosis.
Inconsistencies, delays in care, or missing details can result in denied benefits. That’s why clarity and documentation are crucial throughout the process.
I understand how overwhelming this can be. Let me handle the legal complexities while you focus on your recovery and getting back to normal.
Minnesota workers’ compensation applies to sudden accidents and conditions that develop over time. Covered injuries can include:
Even if your condition existed before, it may still be covered if your work worsens it. For instance, heavy lifting could aggravate a back condition, or exposure to loud noise could worsen a hearing problem.
According to Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, workers’ compensation provides three key types of benefits: wage loss, medical care, and vocational rehabilitation.
Medical benefits include payment of all reasonable and necessary medical expenses that are directly related to the work injury. This includes hospital visits, doctor care, surgeries, prescription drugs, physical therapy, and related costs such as mileage and parking expenses. Injured employees should carefully track and document all treatment-related spending.
You have the right to choose your own treating physician, though your options may be limited if your employer participates in a managed-care plan. If that is the case, your employer is required to notify you.
If your injury affects your ability to earn, you may be eligible for wage-loss compensation:
Each claim is unique and depends on supporting records and wage history. Benefits are typically paid weekly and may be adjusted or settled based on your situation.
An injured employee is entitled to payment of all reasonable and necessary medical bills causally related to the work injury.
The treatment must be causally related to the injury. The medical benefits include payment of prescriptions, reasonable mileage, and parking expenses. As a result, an injured employee should carefully document prescription payments, round-trip mileage, and parking expenses for all medical appointments.
An injured employee is entitled to be treated by the medical Doctor of his or her own choosing. That choice may be limited if the employer participates in a managed-care plan. The employer must inform an injured employee if it participates in a managed care plan.
*The results are conditioned to the unique circumstances of each case. These results do not guarantee your case will result in the same compensation.
An employee is entitled to permanent partial disability benefits if the work injury results in permanent loss of use or functional impairment. In other words, permanent partial disability is payable when an employee is permanently disabled as a result of a work injury. The treating physician, according to the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Permanent Partial Disability Schedule, rates permanent partial disability. Generally, Physicians rate permanent partial disability one year after the injury.
An employee who is unable to return to pre-injury employment is entitled to rehabilitation assistance. A qualified rehabilitation consultant (QRC) is assigned to assist the employee with job search and implement a retraining program where appropriate. An employee has the right to choose his or her qualified rehabilitation consultant. However, the right to choose a qualified rehabilitation consultant is limited by certain time restrictions. As a result, the employee should note that the assignment of a qualified rehabilitation consultant is a significant event, as it must be somebody that the employee can work with and not get pushed back to work when not physically able. Our Minneapolis workers’ compensation lawyer works with QRCs that understand this.
The attorneys at Schmidt & Salita Law Team are among a select handful of Minneapolis workers’ compensation lawyers who practice in the areas of Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury. It is vitally important to maximize benefits when there are Work Comp and Third-Party cases together. Contact us today for a free case evaluation at 952-900-2891 or contact us online.
A work-related injury can disrupt your health, income, and peace of mind. At Schmidt & Salita Law Team, our Minneapolis Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Near You help injured workers secure the benefits they are entitled to under Minnesota law. We guide you through the claims process and fight for coverage of medical care, wage loss, and long-term support so you can focus on recovery.
Visit us at 1600 Hopkins Crossroad, Minnetonka, MN 55305, or call 952-473-4530 for a free consultation today.
We look forward to seeing you at our office located at 1600 Hopkins Crossroad, Minnetonka, MN 55305, United States.
Dean Salita is a seasoned Personal Injury lawyer with over 30 years of experience, specializing in workplace injuries and occupational diseases like asbestos-related illnesses. He’s the chair of the Minnesota Association for Justice Workers’ Compensation section and has been recognized as a Super Lawyer with an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell. Dean is dedicated to providing personal, compassionate legal support to his clients, guiding them through trials and the legal process.
Client Reviews
Google Review Schmidt Law Firm is so much more than the usual out for their back pocket firm they are a group of truly caring people. I was hit by a car & have memory loss. I don’t know how many times they all had to go over and over the same thing with me. They even gave me reminder calls for my doctors appointments. When things were so overwhelming I would call and all I could do is cry and they listened and never once complained or cut me short. Doug and Vanessa were all very helpful so was the rest of the staff. God Bless them all. By the way they got me a lot more than I had hoped for. You really don’t want to be on the opposing side of the table of Doug, he will rip you before you know he did it and he does it in such a nice way.
a month ago 6 months ago a year ago Doug Schmidt is an ultimate professional and legal counselor who not only helped me in the intense and overwhelming legal matters of my personal injury case , but took a sincere personal interest in me and what I was going through medically to get the best possible outcomes for my healing. One of the many things he is quite knowledgeable about are concussions, even giving lectures to other chiropractors and health care professionals on this important misunderstood topic. Shortly after our first discussion, he wanted me to get further testing in regards to a possible concussion as part of the aftermath of my car accident. I know I would have overlooked this very important outcome had it not been for Doug and his kind and caring concern. I am still dealing with post concussion symptoms, but Doug is the one who steered me in the right direction for further help and healing. He goes above and beyond what most “typical” attorneys would do. Doug is anything but “typical”. I am so impressed with his integrity, knowledge, skillfulness, and kindness as a person and an attorney, that I couldn’t be happier than to highly recommend him for any personal injury case! He is amazing! I feel very fortunate to have him on “my side”. Thank you, Doug! Karen Ginn
2 years ago I was involved in a car accident that left me in debilitating pain. I can’t even begin to explain everything I’ve been through the past five years, or how it has changed my life. I will tell you that I wouldn’t have gotten through it without Dean and Caitlin. Dean walked me through the entire process from start to finish. I didn’t have to do anything except focus on getting better. Caitlin was always a quick email or phone call away. She worked tirelessly to go after the insurance company when they wouldn’t pay my medical bills. It was like having my own assistant. I literally didn’t have to talk to any of these people. She did everything for me. In the end, all my medical bills were paid and I ended up with a nice settlement that I feel was well deserved after everything I’ve been through. If you are looking for good representation. I highly recommend Schmidt & Salita Law Team. An experienced group that will fight to get you what you deserve.
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When you schedule your free consultation with a personal injury attorney in Minnesota, you should come prepared with specific questions for us to address. Some of the common questions clients ask us are:
Notify your supervisor immediately and get medical help right away. Waiting too long to report the incident could jeopardize your benefits. According to the Minnesota Department of Labor, you must report the injury within specific timeframes or risk losing coverage.
Here are the steps we recommend:
Contacting a Minneapolis workers’ compensation lawyer early can also help ensure your rights are protected throughout the process.
Timing and consistency matter. Delays or miscommunication between employers and doctors can result in a denied claim.
Minnesota law gives you three years from when your employer reports the injury, or six years from the injury date if no report is made. Waiting makes your claim harder to prove. Some exceptions exist, such as for occupational illnesses that take longer to diagnose. It’s best to act quickly and start documenting everything right away.
Most workers’ compensation cases typically take at least a year or more to settle, and some can take even longer. This is mainly due to medical reasons, as it takes time to determine the permanent nature of an injury. Doctors or Chiropractors are often better equipped to assess the permanency of your injury. Once we have medical evidence, we compile all necessary documents and submit a settlement demand to the insurance company. The negotiation process can take several months, and if an agreement isn’t reached, we may need to file a lawsuit.
The value of a workers’ compensation case depends on several factors. These include the degree of fault of the responsible party, the severity of your injuries, pain, and permanent disability, as well as medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. The financial ability of the at-fault party, often determined by insurance coverage, also plays a role. Schmidt & Salita Law Team, with over 160 years of combined experience, is here to help you evaluate the worth of your case and guide you through the process.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured, please fill out the form below for your free consultation or call us at (952) 473-4530
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“I wanted to extend my personal thanks and appreciation, as well as that of my siblings. We are appreciative of the representation you extended to our father. He always battled for the “little guy,” and you did that for him thru this process. Please extend this thank you to Molly as well. Thank you.”
“Doug Schmidt and his team were a godsend – they were compassionate and professional in helping my sister and I navigate our mother’s Wrongful Death. They were easy to communicate with, and I always felt my concerns and opinions were being heard. I would recommend Schmidt Law Firm to anyone who asks.”
“I feel very lucky to have Mr. Schmidt working for me. He took my case when my first lawyer would not and could not fight his way out of a paper bag. My case was very involved but Mr. Schmidt made it look so easy.”
“Doug and his team are top notch. They are hard working and meticulous with getting the best results… I felt like I was in good hands through the entire process. I couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”
“I wanted to tell you thank you for everything you have done for me I really appreciate it…I truly appreciate everything you did just taking the time to answer my questions, makes me feel good about what was going on and understanding what was happening and everything and just being patient with me. Again I truly appreciate ha...
“Just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you and your staff for all your efforts to collect benefits on behalf of my husband. Your kindness and sympathy during our initial visit with you was very much appreciated.”
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Dean M. Salita, with more than 30 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
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1600 Hopkins Crossroad
Minnetonka, MN 55305
Phone (952) 473-4530
Toll Free 1-800-656-8450
Fax (952) 544-1308
call us: 952.473.4530
