Who Has Your Best Interests At Heart During Your Workers’ Compensation Case?

In a perfect world, everyone involved in your workers’ compensation case would have your best interests at heart, but we don’t live in a perfect world. While it may seem like someone or some business is prioritizing your needs, many of these entities have their own agendas during the injury claims process. If you’re not careful and assume that someone is trustworthy when they aren’t, it can really end up hurting your case. In today’s blog, we spotlight which players do and do not have your best interests at heart during your workers’ compensation case.

Where Loyalty Lies During An Injury Claim

Let’s take a closer look at some of the major people and groups that you’ll work with during the process of your injury case and see where their true priorities lie:

Your Company – We’d love to assume that the company we work for cares about your best interests after an injury, and while many co-workers may showcase this sentiment, don’t assume that HR and your larger company will do the same. The company, at least behind the scenes, will be more concerned with finding coverage if you miss time from work and the way that your absence and injury impacts their bottom line. They may not necessarily hold your job for you after the injury, and they could even retaliate against you because they are annoyed that your injury is negatively impacting production or revenue. There are many great employers out there, but there are many that view injuries in a strictly financial sense, and that means that they will not prioritize your needs during the injury case. Verdict – Not on your side.

The Insurance Company – Your employer’s insurance company is not on your side. While they do want to help you return to gainful employer, they want to do this in order to stop paying you benefits, not because they actually care about you. Their agents may also look for ways to limit how much insurance pays you, so be wary about oversharing information when discussing your case. This one is easy, as the insurance company clearly has different interests at heart. Verdict – Not on your side.

Your Doctor – This one is a little trickier, as there are plenty of good doctors out there who will give a comprehensive and fair examination that can be the catalyst in helping you win an injury award. At the same time, there are doctors who have a history of providing favorable results for insurance companies, which is why companies may push to have you see a certain doctor after your injury. Connect with your lawyer if you have questions about where to turn for your medical exam, as they should be able to point you in the direction of a fair and honest doctor. Verdict – Many are impartial, but make sure you head to a physician you trust for an injury evaluation.

Your Lawyer – Finally, let’s talk about your lawyer. Your lawyer has a vested interest in your case, as you’re the one who will be paying them, but because of how injury cases are handled in Minnesota, you can see why their interests are so aligned with yours. Your lawyer gets paid on a contingent basis, meaning that they only get paid when you win your case. Moreover, they get paid a percentage of your winnings, meaning the more money they get for you, the more money they take home. Their interests are directly tied to how well they do helping you earn an injury award. They’ll take on the insurance companies and ensure your company is fighting fairly because when they come after you, they come after your lawyer as well. Verdict – On your side.

If you’d like to work with a lawyer who has your best interests at heart and wants to ensure you get every penny you deserve, connect with Dean and the team at Margolis Law Firm today at (952) 230-2700.