Minnesota Workers Comp Guide
Filing a workers comp claim in Minnesota follows a specific sequence, and missing a step early on can slow down benefits you're otherwise entitled to.
How to File a Claim in Minnesota
Before anything else, your employer needs to know. That notification is what triggers their obligation to report the claim to their insurer.
- Report the injury to your employer as soon as possible
- Seek medical treatment and inform the provider it's work-related
- Your employer files a First Report of Injury with their insurer
- File your own claim within Minnesota's deadline — see below
- Cooperate with the insurer's investigation and any requested exams
Filing Deadline and Waiting Period
Minnesota's general filing deadline is 3 years from the date of injury, and there's a 3-day waiting period before wage-replacement benefits begin. See the full filing deadline guide for tolling rules and what happens if you miss it.
What Happens After You File
After filing, the waiting period applies before wage-replacement benefits begin, and the insurer will typically assign a claims adjuster to your case shortly after.
Do You Need an Attorney in Minnesota?
Not every Minnesota claim needs an attorney — straightforward claims with no dispute over compensability often resolve without one. But if your claim is denied, disputed, or involves a permanent injury, the calculus changes. Minnesota caps attorney contingency fees at 20% (capped at first $130,000 of compensation, ~$26,000 max).