We've Moved!

We've Moved!

MeuserLaw's legal blogs have moved!

For a huge database of articles covering workers' compensation, PERA duty disability, MSRS duty disability, and personal injury, check out MeuserLaw's article library.

And, for Minnesota's Police Officers, Firefighters, and Corrections Officers, Meuser Law Office has started a brand new blog called "In the Line of Duty." 

"In the Line of Duty," which is proudly hosted by Meuser Law Office, P.A., consists of articles and resources that discuss the specific and unique needs of injured Minnesota Police Officers, Firefighters, and Corrections Officers who are trying to navigate the complex legal system following an in-the-line-of-duty injury.

Minnesota Workers' Compensation Lawyer

A workplace injury can be a devastating experience for a worker and his or her entire family. 

In addition to the physical pain of the injury itself, an on-the-job injury often causes a lot of stress and anxiety. A work injury can be financially devastating, and it can end your career. 

If you’ve sustained an on-the-job injury in Minnesota, Meuser & Associate can help protect your rights and assist you in getting the compensation you are entitled to. Jen Yackley and Ron Meuser, Jr., attorneys at Meuser & Associate, have over 25 years of combined experience representing injured workers and ensuring that they have been compensated for their work-related injuries.

An on-the-job injury often leads to anxiety and worry about medical bills and lost income. To avoid some of this anxiety and worry, you should learn about your rights and what benefits are available to you, which may include medical expense benefits, wage loss benefits, permanent partial disability benefits, and/or rehabilitation benefits.

A Minnesota workers’ compensation lawyer can help you bring a claim for these benefits, or help you protect your rights to these benefits in the event there are disputes on your claim. We can also explore the possibility of securing a settlement of your workers' compensation claims.

You don’t need to wait until there’s a dispute on your case to consult with a workers’ compensation lawyer. In fact, the sooner you speak with us, the easier it is for us to help you navigate the system and avoid making costly mistakes.

At Meuser & Associate, we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means our attorney fees are based on the amount we recover for you. There are no fees up front, there’s no monetary retainer, and there’s no out of pocket expense to you. In the event we are unsuccessful, there is no charge for our legal services.

If you’ve been hurt at work in Minnesota, one of the most important things you can do to protect your interests is to learn about your rights. Call Meuser & Associate at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email to schedule a free, no-obligation legal consultation. 

Speaking With A Minn. Workers' Compensation Lawyer

Often times, when I first speak with a new potential client or someone who has questions about Minnesota workers’ compensation, it's the first time they've ever spoken with a lawyer, and they're nervous about talking to an attorney.

When you call me or schedule a time to meet with me or another workers’ compensation lawyer, we’re regular people, just like you. We have families, pets, hobbies…just like you. Please don’t be feel nervous about talking to us. I don’t bite…I promise! In fact, if you come in on a Friday, you might just catch me in jeans and a sweatshirt.

As lawyers, one of the most important parts of our job is listening. When we first meet with you, a good portion of our meeting is spent listening to you describe your work, your injuries, and what has transpired since that time in terms of your medical care, your work, and how the insurance company has been handling your case. We will ask you specific questions to find out specific information to analyze your case. Based on that, we explain your workers’ compensation rights, discuss issues, strengths, and weaknesses of your case, and make recommendations as to how to proceed to best protect your rights. We’ll also answer any questions you have about your rights, the workers’ compensation process, and our recommendations.

Before you meet with us, don’t spend time over-analyzing your case. Analyzing your case is our job as your lawyer. Every day, our job is to apply the law to the facts of a case. We will explain how your case fits within the law, and ways in which the law can impact your situation.

Be honest with us. Our conversations are confidential. Anything you tell us is held in confidence, and our advice is confidential. When we’re evaluating our case, tell us anything you think is important. If there are things you think may be harmful to your case, it’s important that you let us know about those things to give you an honest assessment of your case. Often, we speak with potential clients who are worried about telling us about prior conditions or injuries. Very, very often, those things that you’re worried about won’t actually hurt your case. The more honest you are with me, the better I can analyze your case, and the more accurate advice I can give you. 

Our job is to give you an honest assessment of your case, not to give you a sales pitch. If you’ve got a solid case, I’ll tell you. If you have a weak case, I’ll tell you. If you don’t have a case, I’ll tell you. All cases have strengths, and all cases have weaknesses. My job is to evaluate and analyze those things and give you an honest assessment.

We provide free, no-obligation Minnesota workers’ compensation case consultations. Part of my job is to help you understand your rights based on the facts of your case. Speaking with a Minnesota workers’ compensation lawyer doesn’t have to be stressful. In fact, most of the time, after meeting with me for the first time, injured workers feel less stressed about their circumstances. Knowledge is a powerful thing, and knowing your workers’ compensation rights can help you feel more in control of your situation. Call Meuser & Associate at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email for a free, no-obligation workers’ compensation consultation.

Do I Need A Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?

If you’re injured on the job in Minnesota, in most instances, you are covered by workers’ compensation insurance which provides  medical expense benefits, wage loss benefits, permanent partial disability benefits, and/or rehabilitation benefits. 

In an ideal world, all Minnesota workers who are hurt at work would automatically get all the benefits they are entitled to under the law. Unfortunately, in most Minnesota workers’ compensation cases, it’s not a matter of IF the workers’ compensation insurer will dispute your claim – it’s a matter of when.

Meuser & Associate represents injured workers thorough the State of Minnesota for a variety of on-the-job injuries, including neck injuries, back injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, traumatic brain injuries, shoulder injuries, crush injuries, spinal cord injuries, ankle injuries, burns, and catastrophic injuries.

If the workers’ compensation insurance company is paying on my claim, why do I need a Minnesota workers’ compensation lawyer? 

Even injured workers who are currently receiving workers’ compensation benefits are well advised to take advantage of a free, no-obligation consultation with a Minnesota workers’ compensation attorney.

As a rule, once you’ve sustained a work-related injury, you are a liability for your employer and their workers’ compensation insurance company. At all stages of your case, the insurance company is looking for ways to minimize the cost of your claim. Even on admitted workers’ compensation claims in Minnesota, where the insurance company has acknowledged responsibility for payment of benefits, there are dozens of ways they can seek to cut you off, undermine your rights, and minimize your entitlement to claims.

For example, workers’ compensation insurance companies often:

• Contest everything about your case, including the reasonableness and necessity of your medical care, your entitlement to wage loss benefits, or even whether or not you were actually hurt at work. 
• If given the opportunity, refer you to a short list of doctors who will minimize the seriousness of your injuries, provide minimal medical care, or push you to return to unrestricted work too soon. 
• Delay or deny your access to treatment with a specialist, diagnostic testing, or surgery. 
• Cut off your wage loss benefits in the hopes that the delay in your receipt of monetary benefits will “starve you out” and force you to accept a settlement for pennies on the dollar. 
• Underpay on wage loss benefits or permanent partial disability benefits, either intentionally or unintentionally. 
• Neglect to tell you about your right to rehabilitation benefits, or permanent partial disability benefits. 
• Wait for you to make a mistake on your claim that will give them a basis to cut you off. 

Even loyal, hardworking employees who have worked for the same employer for years, sometimes discover a dramatic change in attitude in their supervisors if they’ve sustained a work-related injury.

If you’ve suffered a serious work-related injury, everything you’ve worked for can be at risk, including your financial security, your career, and most importantly, your health. A good Minnesota workers’ compensation lawyer can help you navigate the process and help you protect your rights.

An injured worker should never rely on the workers’ compensation insurance company to protect his or her best interests. Being informed about your Minnesota workers’ compensation rights is your first step to protecting your interests. For a free, no-obligation workers’ compensation consultation to learn more about your rights, call Meuser & Associate at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email. 

Merry Christmas from Meuser & Associate!

Merry Christmas from all of us at 

Meuser & Associate!

How a Good MN Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Can Help You

Notifying your employer that you sustained an injury, and filing a Minnesota workers’ compensation claim when you’re hurt at work are two important first steps. If you’ve sustained a serious injury, however, one of your next steps should be to contact a good Minnesota workers’ compensation lawyer. 

While your employer and co-workers may genuinely care about your recover from a work-related injury, to the workers’ compensation insurance company, you are a liability. From day one, the workers’ compensation insurance company is closely looking at how much your injury is going to cost them, and that means that they are also looking for ways to minimize their costs.

In cases involving significant injury, extended time off work, or substantial medical expense, the workers’ compensation insurance company is going to be looking for ways to cut costs. That can be anything from sending you to an IME, denying your entitlement to medical treatment, or cutting off your wage loss benefits. Unfortunately, there are certain procedures within the Minnesota workers’ compensation system that an insurance company can use to basically set you up to make a mistake on your claim, and give them a legal basis to deny portions of your claim.

Minnesota workers’ compensation insurance adjusters know the workers’ compensation rules. Do you? Don’t rely on the adjuster to tell you what your rights are. In fact, they are not legally obligated to tell you what your rights are. The best way you can level the playing field is to have a good Minnesota workers’ compensation attorney on your side through the process.

A good Minnesota workers’ compensation lawyer can help you avoid making mistakes that will cost you benefits, they can help protect you if the insurance company tries to deny your benefits, and in most cases, a workers’ compensation lawyer can help you get a fair settlement for your claim.

In Minnesota, workers’ compensation attorney fees are contingent, meaning that the fees are based on the amount your attorney recovers on your behalf. It also means there are no fees if your attorney is unable to recover benefits on your behalf. These fees are set by Minnesota statute at 25% of the first $4,000 in benefits, and 20% thereafter, up to a maximum of $13,000 in attorney fees per injury. In certain complex cases, your attorney may petition the court to approve fees in excess of $13,000. In cases involving disputes primarily dealing with your right to medical expense benefits or rehabilitation benefits, the insurance company is responsible for paying your attorney fees called Roraff or Heaton attorney fees.

As a Minnesota worker, you have the right to a safe workplace. If you do sustain an on-the-job injury in Minnesota, make sure you receive the workers’ compensation benefits you’re entitled to. At Meuser & Associate, we have the knowledge and experience to protect your workers’ compensation rights from the first day you are injured. For a free, no-obligation case evaluation, contact us at 877-746-5680, or click here to send us an email. 

Jake LaFerriere: Why We Do What We Do

Why do we practice Minnesota workers’ compensation law? Because of people like Jake LaFerriere. It’s a privilege and an honor to work with and help people like him.

Jake LaFerriere, a Minneapolis Firefighter, responded to a residential structure fire on July 3, 2010. While Jake and his partner were conducting overhaul of the third story of the structure, looking for the source of the fire, a backdraft explosion suddenly blasted Jake across the room. To escape the fire and smoke, Jake jumped out of a third-story window, landing on the roof of the first floor porch. He sustained a broken ankle, torn ligaments in his knee, and third and fourth degree burns on his hands.

After months of recovery and physical therapy, Jake is back at work in a light duty capacity and he looks forward to returning to firefighting.

Watch Jake’s recent interview on WCCO Channel 4 and read his story here.

You can also read an interview Jake did with Fox9 here.

Jake was also interviewed by Weasel, Josh, & Nick on the 93X Half-Assed Morning Show, which you can download and listen to by clicking here.

Jake is truly an inspirational guy, and we’re not alone in thinking so. Jake was nominated by his mom as one of “America’s Most Wanted All-Stars,” a program run by the makers of “America’s Most Wanted,” the crime series, to honor America’s most inspirational first responders, and he was selected as a finalist!

America’s Most Wanted All-Stars will select a total of eight finalists, and voters will select the winner. In addition to the huge honor of being selected as “America’s Most Wanted All-Star,” the winner will receive $10,000.00 and a trip to the NASCAR SPRINT Cup Series All-Star Challenge.

Jake's story was featured on America's Most Wanted on Fox on April 1, 2011. Click the video to below to watch the clip from America's Most Wanted.

Beginning April 21, go vote for Jake for “America’s Most Wanted All-Star!” You can vote once per day, per email address, through May 8^th! Click here to view Jake's profile and to vote for him!

Stay tuned for more news about Jake and for updates on his participation in America's Most Wanted All-Stars!

To learn more about Minnesota workers' compensation, visit us at MeuserLaw.com!

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Most Popular Minnesota Workers' Compensation Articles: September 2010

In case you missed them, here are our Top Ten Most Popular workers' compensation articles from Meuser & Associates during September 2010.

1. Calculating Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): MN Work Comp 
2. Cortisone Injections, Epidural Steroid Injections, and Other Therapeutic Injections for Work Injuries 
3. Spinal Disc Herniation Injuries 
4. Grain Bin Accidents and Injuries and Minnesota Work Comp 
5. Calculating Your Average Weekly Wage (AWW) 
6. Explosion and Fires at Black Dog Plant in Burnsville, MN Injures Three Firefighters 
7. Nerve Conduction Studies and Workers' Compensation Injuries 
8. Gillette-Type Repetitive Motion Injuries in Minnesota 
9. MN Work Comp and Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) Benefits 
10. Home Health Care Workers and Minnesota Workers' Compensation Benefits

For a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our Minnesota workers' compensation lawyers, call Meuser & Associates at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email.

Most Popular Minnesota Workers' Compensation Articles

Our most recent post was our 100th Minnesota Workers' Compensation blog article!

In case you missed some of our more popular articles from the past, here are the most popular five posts over the last year and a half.

1. Calculating Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): MN Work Comp
2. Cortisone Injections, Epidural Steroid Injections, and Other Therapeutic Injections for Work Injuries
3. Spinal Disc Herniation Injuries
4. Calculating Your Average Weekly Wage (AWW)
5. Work-Related Rotator Cuff Tears

Visit us at MeuserLaw.com!

How Much Does a Minnesota Workers' Compensation Lawyer Cost?

Attorney fees in a workers’ compensation case are contingent. What this means is that your lawyer’s fees in a workers’ compensation are based on the amount recovered on your behalf. Workers’ compensation lawyers generally charge 25% of the first $4,000.00 in benefits recovered, and 20% thereafter, up to a maximum of $13,000.00 per injury. These amounts are set by Minnesota law.

Your attorney is only paid if he or she is successful in securing benefits on your behalf.

What this means is that you do not have to pay a workers’ compensation lawyer a retainer or any upfront fees. It costs you nothing out of pocket.

If your case involves a dispute regarding your medical care or rehabilitation benefits, and you are successful, the workers’ compensation insurance company is typically responsible for paying your attorney what are known as Roraff or Heaton fees.

Because attorney fees in a Minnesota workers’ compensation case are contingent, there is no risk of incurring a large bill for attorney time if you are unsuccessful on your case.

We are happy to provide a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your Minnesota workers’ compensation case. Contact Meuser & Associates, P.A., at 877- 746-5680 or click here to send us an email.

Visit Minnesota Workers' Compensation and Personal Injury Law Firm, Meuser & Associates, P.A., at MeuserLaw.com

The Official Website of Meuser & Associates, P.A. is Live!

In addition to this blog, our firm has been working on a website for the last couple months. It’s now officially live! Check out the new Meuser & Associates website!

Our site has lots of great resources, including a Glossary of Legal Terms, a FAQ for Personal Injury, and a really comprehensive FAQ for Workers’ Compensation. We also have a cool page featuring client testimonials like this one:

For a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our attorneys, call us at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email.

Visit Minnesota Workers' Compensation and Personal Injury Law Firm, Meuser & Associates, P.A., at MeuserLaw.com