Attorneys Fighting For Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) In Sioux Falls And Throughout South Dakota

Last updated on March 9, 2026

If your doctor says you’ve reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) and you just received a letter with an impairment rating and a settlement offer, you could be in danger of being short-changed. The offer you received may seem like enough now, but it might not be enough to help you long-term.

Alvine Law Firm, LLP, is a Sioux Falls law firm with more than 25 years of trial experience. If you were offered a check –especially for something as serious as a lost finger, shoulder damage or a permanent back injury – we can help you fight for the benefits you really need.

What Is Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)?

PPD is a workers’ compensation benefit for a permanent physical loss (or permanent loss of function) after you have healed as much as you’re going to heal. These benefits are different from temporary wage checks while you are off work. PPD usually starts once you hit maximum medical improvement and receive an impairment rating.

In South Dakota, many PPD calculations are tied to a whole-person impairment percentage based on your injuries and the impact they have on your life. Some body parts are treated as “scheduled” – meaning the law has assigned a set value based on the body part, regardless of your job title. Examples of scheduled injuries include:

• Eye injuries or vision loss
• Arm, hand, wrist and finger injuries (including amputations)
• Leg, knee, ankle, foot and toe injuries

Other injuries like back injuries, neck injuries and head injuries often involve more complex calculations to determine the impairment percentage. These nonscheduled injuries often require a close look at work restrictions, how much earning capacity a worker has lost and other details.

What Happens If The Impairment Percentage Is Too Low?

Unfortunately, if the rating is too low, the settlement will be too low. Small changes in the percentage can mean thousands (or tens of thousands) of dollars over a worker’s lifetime.

Common way workers get short-changed include:

• The company doctor measures range of motion quickly, or not at all.
• The insurer minimizes key symptoms like pain, weakness or nerve problems.
• The insurer blames prior injuries for your disability, even when you were working full duty before this accident.
• The insurer rounds down.
• The insurer interprets guidelines in the way that benefits them and not the injured worker.

At Alvine Law Firm, LLP, our job is to make sure the rating reflects the real, permanent damage – not the cheapest number the insurer can justify.

Can You Challenge The Doctor’s Rating?

You are not required to accept the insurer’s rating as the final word. If you believe the impairment rating is wrong, you may be able to seek a second opinion and challenge the number. A credible second evaluation can change the settlement dramatically.

At Alvine Law Firm, LLP, we understand that getting the support you really need often depends on examining the details of your claim and challenging the initial impairment rating. In PPD cases, our team:

• Reviews medical records and the rating report for missing elements.
• Identifies whether doctors issued the correct tests
• Determines whether the insurer followed the correct guidelines
• Helps you pursue a second opinion when appropriate
• Builds the evidence you need to support a higher rating

Should You Take A Lump Sum Payment?

Many PPD offers come packaged as a “lump sum.” Sometimes that lump sum will not offer you enough to pay for ongoing treatment. If your condition could worsen or you might need more care, accepting this offer is a major decision.

Before you take a lump sum, you should consider your situation. Will you be giving up future medical benefits that you may need for treatment? Could you need surgery later for shoulder, back, knee or nerve issues? Does the payout match what you will lose in future earnings? Is someone rushing you to accept the offer while you still have symptoms that need care?

If you just hit MMI and received a PPD offer, do this before you respond:

• Do not cash the check or sign release papers yet.
• Get a copy of the full impairment rating report.
• Confirm whether the injury is being treated as scheduled or nonscheduled.
• Make a list of ongoing symptoms and limitations you still have.
• Call an experienced attorney to review the offer and discuss your options.

Talk To Alvine Law Firm, LLP, Before You Accept A PPD Offer

If you’re the worker offered $5,000 for a finger, hand or major joint injury, and you know it doesn’t reflect the real loss, trust that instinct. Alvine Law Firm, LLP, has more than 25 years of trial experience in the Sioux Falls area. We will review your impairment rating, explain what it should include under South Dakota law and help you pursue a second opinion when the company’s number is too low.

Call 605-275-0808 or reach out to our South Dakota offices online to schedule a no-cost consultation with an attorney who can help you understand what your claim is really worth.